"Mr. Harkness, this isn't the first time we have had this discussion about John." Jack nodded at John's Headmaster before fixing himself more comfortably in his chair. He resisted the urge to smile as he took a closer look at the man across from him.

Mr. Packner was a small man, little over 5' 6" tall and balding. He had a facial tick that acted up every time he lost control of it. Jack watched the tick easy after the man finished with the word John. "I wish you could have brought your husband with you. Mr. Perry-Hart-Harkness should be here for our conversation. If I may ask is there any trouble at home?" He folded his hands together while leaning back in his chair. The Chair slipped back too much making him quickly lean forward as not to fall backwards. He swept a hand up to his comb over to make sure it hadn't moved.

Jack stifled a laugh while Mr. Packner steadied himself. The poor man was always such a bundle of nerves around Jack. NG had a better way in dealing with this man. Jack was well aware of the calming effect NG had on the freaky little Headmaster being able to get easily into the man's mind. To Jack it always seemed that this Headmaster some how feared being alone with him. His grin didn't hide this time as Jack smelt the fear coming out of the sweat that just kept gathering on Mr. Packner's forehead and making it impossible to not notice the odor of his cheap cologne.

The smell was sickening to Jack and he tried not to breath after he said. "My husband is away on business. He should be home towards the end of the week. But if I may ask, you seem to have forgotten to tell me what exactly did John do?" He was lying of course about NG but how do you explain that your partner was off in another time period fighting bad guys. A business trip seemed to be the better explanation and one that should end any suspicious that there was some kind of marriage problems at home. Unhappy men like Packner always seemed to rest easier if another's life was just as miserable as his. Jack hoped the little troll guy didn't think that the two of them would bond if Jack's home life weren't all peaches and cream.

The Troll was staring at Jack so intently he began licking his lips delicately as if propositioning him. For a man that has slept with all kinds of life forms there was nothing remotely appealing about the Headmaster sitting in front of him. In the smallest of thoughts Jack toyed with the idea of sexually teasing the man, taking pictures of it and then selling them to the newspapers.

Knowing NG would enter Mr. Packner's mind when they had meetings in the past, Jack mused as to what was going on now in the man's head. It almost made him wish he had been a stronger Telepath. But he knew NG would be a little more devious, playing with the man's thoughts if it suited him. But would NG have changed the Headmaster's mind about John's crimes, letting them be forgotten?

It gave Jack something else to bring up to NG when he got home.

He sighed making the Headmaster knit his eyebrows together and pout. It wasn't at all an attractive look for the man.

Mr. Packner cleared his throat before taking a handkerchief out to wipe his forehead. He seemed disappointed at Jack's lack of reaction to his flirting. "Well despite his misbehavior and bad language in class John has been late to school more often lately sometimes cutting classes altogether. But today he added arson to his list and tried to burn down the Chemistry lab. I would have suspended him and according to our by-laws he should be expelled. I know your reputation with in the Government and we wouldn't want things to get out of control. But you have been so generous to this establishment I thought we should have another chat and see if maybe we could come to a compromise."

Mr. Packner took a few extract second to spilt out compromise before he gained enough control to get out his real meaning.

Jack disgusted with this man got out his checkbook pen in hand and began to write out an amount on a check. He handed it to Mr. Packner whose eyes lit up in agreement of the generous donation. Now Jack wished NG were here to jumble the Troll's mind, the visit would have made it a lot easier on their life savings.

"I see we have come to an agreement. But as for show I think we should make John do some kind of pennants for his behavior. Maybe clean the blackboards or sweep and mop the cafeteria's floor." He went back to folding his hands in front of his chest. His slick black hair was remaining plastered to the top of his head as his sweating came to an end.

Jack tried not to show his real emotions with this man. If Jack had been more like his past self he would have hurt Mr. Packner rather then succumb to blackmail. But in this time though humans like this just made him sick he had to conduct himself with much restraint.

Jack quickly stood up watching the vile little man raised his gaze to meet his eyes. The flirting returned as the Troll took in Jack's build and licked his lips again.

The man gulped when Jack's eyes narrowed as he said in a not so inviting tone. "What you do with him here is your concern. I have other plans for him. I take it he is in his usual spot." The Head Master nodded fearfully. "Good, I will collect him early. I'm sure once his father comes home things with him will improve." Extending his hand to Mr. Packner Jack didn't smile but let his face remain emotionless.

Mr. Packner stood heisting before he took Jack's hand. " As always Mr. Harkness, a pleasure and we will keep this visit a secret. I hope you have a pleasant day." Shaking Jack's hand more so than normal he walked over to the door and showed Jack out letting his hand rest on Jack's shoulder.

"What a gross man." Jack said out loud when the door shut. He wiped the sweaty handshake on some ones coat hanging near the office door earning a giggle from a young girl around John's age sitting on a bench. Jack assumed by the loud look of her clothes and her over done eyes that she was there for a disciplinary reason since the school had a strict dress code. She smiled at his smile and surprisingly winked.

He rolled his eyes as he walked out of the office. "These girls are too forward. Why can't we go back to simpler times?" He couldn't help but shake his head no, not believing that the girl was any more forward than any human being in the past. People always flirted it was part of human nature. The point was he would always be too old for most of the human race. So flirting even with some one near the age he appeared could be considered robbing the cradle.

He straightened up his facial features as he went to collect his son. He didn't want John to think his Dad found this whole trip amusing and some what disgusting when having to deal with a sleazy school master into blackmailing important parents. If only the man hadn't figured out that Jack was with Torchwood. This deal to save John's reputation might have gone down a lot cheaper. As Jack walked down the hall he thought on ways of dealing with Mr. Packner. In Jack's other mind, the one that didn't mind degrading scumbags he came up with a way of putting Mr. Packner out of the blackmailing business once and for all. It wasn't pretty and it involved lots of pain. Though however amusing Jack let it slide. He knew that getting even wouldn't change anything. He simply would at some point report Mr. Packner to the taxman.

Jack took the plotting grin off his face before he reached his son. Since he had to show some type of fatherly disappointment in John's actions he schooled his features to be parental. His patients with John were at an end so it was a good thing NG should be back tonight. Just like the last time Jack's husband promised he wouldn't be gone for long. That was a month ago. John often got bothered when NG left for long periods. It was almost normal for the kid to get into trouble when his Papa went hunting for Andie. But it didn't mean Jack and everyone around John was to be a punching bag.

This trip started with The Doctor dropping a note with a lead on Andie. Of course NG followed it. The whole routine of NG's travels began to upset Jack. NG could very well end up in some kind of trouble with some unforeseen force and Jack would be powerless to help. The endless waiting game at the end of a promise from NG for a swift return didn't make matters any better. Jack felt trapped and useless as forces designed by the unknown took NG away for longer periods of time.

And NG was no help in explaining what did happen when he was gone. He for the most part didn't say much and Jack took it all wrong most of the time. NG asked his husband for one thing and that was no interference with his business no matter what happened. NG had to be able to do this on his own. He did his best to make Jack understand that the future wasn't yet his to look into and someday all of what went on now would make sense.

Jack reluctantly agreed to NG's terms but did have NG swear to get word to him some how if things went bad. For the most part NG did leave clues for Jack to follow in bits of things the Rift dropped off. Jack found it exciting to chase down these leads even if most seemed impossible to decode or led to dead ends. It was like solving a puzzle trying to figure out exactly when NG would be home. But after much frustration and emotional outbreaks on Jack's part, the Twins and Luke came up with a program that aided with Jack's deduction skills (which he had none) allowing for a more accurate formula to determine when NG would be home.

As stated with the program NG should have been home last month. Jack had a feeling when he woke up this morning it would be today. He had a dream of the naughty kind and all the equipment in the world couldn't predict as well as NG touching his mind with a naughty dream.

He smiled while the dream came back to haunt his daytime. He knew he was smiling just a little too much so he corrected his face back to the upset parents scowl. John was after all at a very perceptive age. Fifteen years old meant he had some idea about what his parents got up to. He also would have been very aware of how his Dad looked when thinking such thoughts.

The boy also felt when Jack was pissed at NG. Something for which Jack tried to keep hidden. But it slipped out more and more after each time NG returned Jack giving less answers than the last time. Recently it seemed to Jack that NG was fazing him out of his life. Jack wasn't going to admit to anyone it hurt. But John picked up on Jack's moods even if Jack wasn't aware of it. Though his emotions and thoughts were schooled and John not correctly trained, Jack was aware that his son came from a strong line of incredible empathy. So it was a task to not to let his feelings slip when near the boy.

There was no way of Jack knowing that John felt NG fading away as well. It would have explained and given cause for his acting out and bad behaving. Each time his Papa came home things seemed off to him. Though his Papa was in front of him NG often seemed to be half somewhere else. Then was the see-through appearance John latched onto with his inner eye. NG wasn't always part of their world. John saw his Papa abandoning this time and him for some other life. However John found most of what he viewed confirmed one thing. NG had lost control of his own will. It was some unknown off world out of sync force that was dictating NG's life.

NG's trips left Jack stuck at Torchwood and trying to raise this troubled boy that loved to torment his dear and very old Dad. Most of the time Jack didn't mind. John was a good kid, full of spirit but still manageable, just not in the eyes of his Headmaster and sometimes in the eyes of his Dad. For most of John's life, NG had been there so Jack figured it was now his turn. Though, Jack mused, NG could have waited just a little longer, perhaps when John was in college to take his little trips. Jack loved his son but the teenager version of his child though entertaining was for the most part tiring. It also hurt Jack because he knew John needed NG to be at home just as much as Jack wanted that for himself.

This way of life wasn't what NG and Jack agreed upon before John was born. NG was to be the one staying home and Jack was supposed to go back to Torchwood. That was until seven years ago Andie started to appear in NG's dreams and The Doctor started to run often into the moonstones and her path of destruction. NG took it upon himself, apologies to Jack over and over again for leaving, to try and find Andie.

Neither one of them knew how much NG's actions would start to effect their home life. And Jack kind of guessed that the more trips NG took the less likely Andie would ever return to them. Jack was starting to give in to the Universe for the first time in his life. NG upon his return would learn Jack's thoughts on the matter. Jack just didn't feel like hiding his emotions anymore. Pretending that everything was fine just wasn't cutting it anymore.

It was time NG knew that his little jaunts leaving father and son alone hurt not only Jack's relationship with his husband but with his son as well. Jack, fighting aliens one moment then running home to cook dinner for his son the next had worn him out. He wondered just how he found time to help John with his homework when NG wasn't around. But this double life was a lost cause and John was paying for it every time he acted out and got into trouble.

Jack paused at the door to the detention room leaning his head against the cool wall to calm his mind. He didn't want John to get wind of his current emotional flux. That was the draw back having a son that was a heightened Telepath. His boy since the time he was born always knew just what he was thinking if not feeling.

Jack found out when John was younger just how strong the boy was and had to retrain his mind to block the boy. NG didn't feel John should be trained, he didn't want the boy to be in tune with his sister. If John naturally used his abilities NG assumed he would never go looking in places he had no idea existed. NG was under the impression that curiosity was a key in Telepathic development. His sister, Jolein, use to trail after their half brother, following Loyalwin through the astral plain. NG himself found once he embraced his powers his life was never to be of his own design. He also put Stu into the mix when arguing with Jack. Stu was never the same after he used his gifts in The Ritual. So NG felt that the less John knew about what he could do the better off he was.

Of course Jack was aware his son Ianto didn't feel that way and saw that the boy did get some training. "After all, Dad, he should at least understand control. I won't teach him astral projection or any of the more invasive stuff. But at least I can get him to understand his empathy."

And as if he read Jack's mind John looked up from the book he was reading when he heard the squeak of the door. For a brief second Jack stared at the image of his long dead friend John Hart. The image let Jack flashback to the first time he laid eyes on the rogue. The memory made him feel a little dizzy and shook him to the core. The boy had just started to look so much like his late Granddad. It dawned on Jack just how sad it was that the boy didn't know what kind of man John Hart turned into and he also didn't have the luxury of getting to know Mark for very long. Mark left just a few years after John was born. It was a shame John didn't have those two as an extra grounding force in his development. They had done wonders for Andie, Tara and Ianto when NG had vanished for five years. Maybe that was what the boy was missing those extra influences his other children had in growing up.

John blinked at his father when he sensed a bit of sadness escape Jack's very walled off mind. He knew his Dad had been thinking but couldn't get a handle on just what those thoughts were. He realized that his actions must have cut deep this time for his Dad to be so extra careful with revealing his thoughts. The part that did slip, John had seen before. His Dad was thinking about his late Grand Parents that much he did read. In order to not tip his Dad that he had felt something from him he looked smug and rebellious instead of showing concern.

The smirk was expected from the boy. Jack realized that maybe as a father he just wasn't good for this particular child. He had in fact let his son down. But that didn't mean John got off easy, without punishment. It just meant Jack was going to be a little easier on the boy form now on. If spending more time with him helped keep him out of trouble then he would do it. Also he may be able to steer the kid in the direction of some type of career. As of this moment in time, John really didn't have a clue for his future. But the boy wasn't all to blame with his misconduct. It was something he was doing to get Jack's attention.

"Sorry for dragging you away from work, Dad. I asked Mr. P not to call you but he just cursed and slammed the door after he escorted me here." His eyes had that look NG projected during his early brat phase.

The difference was he had Jack's color eyes but the face was still so John Hart even with the different colored eyes. At times Jack swore John had found away to return to them. "Fifteen year without you, John and twelve for you, Mark. I miss you my friends." He placed his hands in the pockets of his Greatcoat and moved closer to John.

"Get your things we are going home. I'm not going to talk until you have a long think in your room over this. I'm tired of this, John. You are wearing me thin. I don't understand why you seem to get worse when your Papa goes away."

The boy stood. He would be taller than Jack when he finished growing. He was still boy shaped though for some one of fifteen. But Jack could see the man he would look like in his face when he grew into his body.

"That's the problem, Dad. You just don't understand." But John did understand and he regretted the words as they left his mouth. He picked his stuff up and walked passed Jack who now held the door open for him. Their ride home was in silence. John took the time to think like his Dad asked. But he didn't think on what he did at school that day. He daydreamed about how he would fix his parents and make his Dad happy again.

He was back on Boeshane. At some point the Human Race was do to start colonizing the planet. Jack told him the date. NG knew what he had to do while he still the chance. Once the people got here, it would be too late.

Off in the distance he sensed a great surge of emotion, as the colonists grew anxious the closer they came to their new home. It felt stimulating to have such an abundance of strong positive emotions. NG closed his eyes breathing in, he let his mind wrap around those thoughts from complete strangers.

When his mind returned he entered the lab noticing how nature had taken over, growing funguses here and there with evidence of rodents eating away at anything that their teeth could sink into. He ran his finger over one of the work benches watching it pick up the inches think layer of dust. It was then he saw the robe on the floor next to part of the ceiling that water seepage had let fall.

Ismandel's body was gone, the years and some of the critters made sure of that. All that remained in the tattered insect eaten rob was a shiny ring and some loose strands of his hair around some bone fragments. Outside of that he was nothing more than a stain on the remaining fabric of the robe and the bare floor.

NG moved the robe around a bit before retrieving the ring Ismandel once wore. "I should have gotten here faster but the years caught me up." He carefully shifted the pieces of hair and bone into the robe and cautiously folded them together. He slowly stood taking the parcel with him and placing it on a nearby table, letting the ring rest on top of the fabric.

His hand rested on it for a few moments. "I'm not blaming you, my friend. I never could have blamed you. Things happen, and anger isn't always the answer. But what the moonstones are doing now because of what happened to your world is making it hard not to ignore any of it. I am very angry my daughter is being used by them, I'm even angry that those kind creatures that sought out my mind in peace look to war and annihilation as justice."

NG paused before adding. "But for now I will see you properly put to rest. These problems aren't yours any more, they are mine." He patted the material before going over the room.

It hadn't changed much. There was still an image of blood splatter on the floor where the robe used to lay. He leaned over and pushed a button hoping there was still enough energy to power the place. He assumed that before the moonstones transferred to him there was still some of their power stored in the place's smaller subsystems.

When the lights went on he connected to those power cells by letting his mind run around the control systems. He was very much like those power cells now living on borrowed time. The Doctor said that NG could exist forever with the amount of moonstone energy that John had given him. But at some point his aura would fade and NG would not maintain a solid form, He would become all energy. An aura to The Time Lord was more of a natural power source all living things hold. NG had more than an average share of such a force.

He felt the room, remembered the smells as his hands brushed against the dusty tables. He traced the console gently trying not to disturb too much of the filthy build up that the years had created. He wanted to preserve it for some unforeseen future, one in which some archeologist might just dig it up and wonder what had happened here. If anything remained after he sealed it up. He hoped that some distant future life form would find this place and wonder about its mysteries.

Just not now, not in this time, man simply wasn't ready for the truth. NG smiled feeling the power dance around his mind as he sucked out the information still in the computer.

Above Boeshane blossomed a far different sight then the one NG had first seen. The deadly heat was gone and there were now rivers and ocean where there was once parched earth. The Terra Forming nearly complete as great ships made their way from different parts of the Human settled Universe. NG closed his eyes once again as these new minds caught him off guard again. Searching out the minds of hundreds of colonist ready to start a brave new world as they approached he sensed Jack's grandparents were on that ship. Eyes remain closed he reached out in to the black night above searching for the beginnings of Jack's father as he lay growing in his Grand Mother's womb.

He found the beginnings of that child letting a smile caress his lips at the energy the child possessed. He returned letting his mind focus once again on the room around him. He came for one other thing besides the secrets in Ismandel's computer and that wasn't to watch the beginning of Jack's heritage settle on the land above. As interesting as it sounded to him, he didn't have time for it. What he came for was exactly where it had fallen so long ago.

He wanted this room to stay like it was, preserved over time in the rocks and with newer crystal formations added with the introduction over time of flowing water from above. But he knew the pond that he loved to swim in was gone buried under a cave-in that happened before Boeshane was even explored by The Colonization Committee. The moonstone chamber was also missing, lost to the movement of time and the unnatural change to the planet's surface. Terra forming rarely left traces of a planet's past. However these caves would, NG at least knew that to be true.

The lab and Ismandle's living chambers were still intact but they were buried under many layers of rock. No one would be able to reach them again once NG had left. Those sections were to be officially a tomb once NG set off the explosives he had set in place before coming to this chamber. It made NG happy that he would be the only one to pay his respects to Ismandle. NG owed his life to him. It was a kindness that he gave him a place to rest. It was also out of respect that he buried the remains of Ismandle's work. NG would be the only one that would keep Ismandle alive.

"I'm sorry. So sorry this happened to you." He stood turning away from Ismandle's remains again and walked to the far end of the room where Pado lie.

The android was the reason NG traveled to this place. Reaching the prone broken form he bent down and examined the hole in Pado's chest that Loyalwin's kind had inflicted. It was fixable as was the rest of the broken doll's body.

Pado's form hardly withered from the march of time. He still looked the same causing NG's loins to stir. He leaned over to stare into the lifeless open dark eyes before kissing his lips running his hands to the back of his head to remove the micro power drive wedged in the back of his celluloid skull. He popped the new drive back in the small space and said. "Time to wake up sleeping beauty."

Pado's body twitched. Silently he moved his head and focused on NG's smile. His hand reached to touch NG' face first then switched his hand to NG belly. Pado's eyes flexed in confusion when he noticed NG were no longer pregnant. He frowned looking at NG with concern.

"No my friend, they are just fine." NG began grabbing Pado's hand bringing it to his lips. "They were born a long time ago. You have been asleep for over 1500 years." He rubbed the hand now warming with the new energy in his system.

Pado's squeezed NG's hand when he felt NG's sadness. "It's okay, my friend. I will explain it all to you when we get back to Jack. You will even meet my children." He tilted his head and smiled.

Pado nodded and stood gently lifting NG with him. He drew the small man to his large body and held him.

NG read the body language realizing it was Pado's way of grieving for Ismandle. "Yes he is gone, both of us failed to protect him. He is dead because he protected me." NG buried his head into the android's chest and sobbed. "I'm so sorry. I know you loved him."

Pado rubbed NG's back in hopes of soothing his pain. He did something then that NG didn't think he could do. "I still do love him as I love you. You don't have to be sorry. Ismandel wanted to protect you. You were his salvation, NG, you were his destiny." Pado's voice so hoarse and sultry. The scratchiness of his words brought out his sexiness.

NG shivered. "You can speak!"

Pado tightened his hold on NG. "Not much, and only when it is important." He released NG and went over to the garment remains of Ismandle placing his hands on top almost as in pray. "He adjusted my vocal circuits some what but he nev… nev… never completed it. Hence the unsteady words." He removed his hands and said. "Rest well, friend." He lowered his head before returning his gaze to NG.

NG looking around the room to make sure there wasn't something else to take with them before returning to Pado's side. He wrapped his arm around the android's waist and smiled.

"Time to go, my friend." Pado nodded and NG willed them away as the explosions sealed the room.

Rhys stretched his back out when he rose from the bed he shared with his wife of many years. Gwen was gone already, picking Harry and his kids up at the airport. After almost 16 years they were finally coming back to Cardiff. His Grandkids were now grown up. The boys, Nigel and Jack were finished with University.

Jack, the oldest of the twins, was itching to star work for the Foreign Office that his Uncle Alan not of blood relation, who was now Prime Minister offered him. Alan had secured the young man a minor secretary job. Jack who held a lot of Becca's looks and most of her self disciplined personality was eager to please his family and couldn't wait to leave for London after his short visit with his Grand Parents.

Rhys scratched his stomach under his T-shirt as he plodded his way to the bathroom. He yawned at his reflection in the mirror as he turned the sink on. When he splashed the cold water on his face making a "bur" sound he did the next thing he did every morning.

When the flushing toilet signaled half of his morning routine was done he head off the kitchen in search of coffee and something to fill his stomach up with. Off course after peeking in the refrigerator and finding only a note that said "made the last of the eggs and ate the last slice of bread before heading out. You may want to go to the shop before I get back with the family."

He laughed at the note. It was so typical of Gwen; she had been giving him instructions for most of their married life. But at one point Gwen left and joined her son and their grandkids in Australia. Rhys went along for the first few months but felt like a fish out of water. He thought to himself that he was just too old for a change. So he kissed his wife of over more years then he could remember and went back to Cardiff, Jack and Torchwood.

Gwen stayed a few years more but missed Rhys a little too much. Well actually a little more than a little and flew back home to his awaiting arms. She didn't return to Torchwood. Instead she went back to helping Andy at with the police as a consultant. It was pretty much a made up job but it did pay some. Not that money was an issue. Jack supplied a super huge pension for anyone that survived to old age.

Rhys shook his head. To this day he still didn't know how Jack managed to maintain the wealth that Torchwood seemed to possess. It was bottomless pit from the way Jack described it. He grinned at Rhys before mime locking his lips and throwing away the invisible key.

Rhys even went so far as to attempt to do some digging when curiosity got the best of him. He had wish Ianto was around as he started his investigation. At least Mr. Jones may not have given him a direct answer if asked. But he would have, behind Jack's back, point Rhys in the correct direction. Now Rhys was staring at a blank page on a note pad and no real direction to head in.

Still in time he made some progress. After several dead-ended leads and a lot of doors slamming in his face. Jack took him a side.

"I'm honored that you have put such dedication to this project, Rhys. But I have been a step ahead of you and will remain that way. I'm sorry, as much as I would love to let you in, I simple can't. There are some things that humans should never know." The smile was on his face and his damn blue eyes were dancing, but Rhys could tell he wasn't joking. Something behind that smile and those bright eyes had him more than a little scared.

He backed down from the investigation after that day. Gwen kissed him and told him that he was still a smart amazing man even if Jack did make him feel like he should piss his pants. She said she learned since the beginning that unless Ianto was on your side, Jack was unmovable when it came to certain things.

When Rhys later went to see NG he brought up the whole affair hoping NG could break this myth about Jack being so dark and threatening. He needed disprove this feeling he had that Jack was some how not like the rest of them. Jack, in Rhys mind, started to feel alien.

NG couldn't help but agree with Rhys. "There is so much to Jack, I'm not surprised he seems alien. Rhys he is right when he says it is best we don't know. I'm starting to wish I didn't know half the things I know now. It is a scary World, hell it is a scary Universe. Sometimes I think Torchwood was designed to keep Humans away from seeing the Boogiemen. If some people saw the things I have seen they would go insane."

Rhys never forgot those words each time he entered The Hub. But it didn't stop his curiosity about Jack. He wanted to know more. Jack was as a brother to him and something extra special to Gwen. But after all this time, all the family events and parties and celebrations even working with a man under the worst of life threatening conditions he still, as Ianto once said, just scratched the surface. Jack was still as mysterious as the day he first met him.

"And just how many years was that now?" Rhys flopped down on the couch and flicked on the TV to get a bit of news before he left for the shops. He couldn't remember. Age did that even with his work for the Institute. He was just happy Harry was coming home. It made sense to want to return to Cardiff. With the kids all grown, Harry would have to be involved in something. After all this time maybe Harry would be able to forgive NG and Jack.

Rhys still loved both of them. He also loved Becca, but after Tosh, Owen and James died he realized that some times because of the job lives were lost. There was nothing that could change that simple fact. John didn't kill Becca, John lost his life long before Becca was made a victim. This wasn't NG's fault anymore than it was Mark's fault. It was just something that was supposed to happen.

"I never thought in a million years I would be thinking like this." He signed as he turned off the TV. "I just hope Harry has reached a similar conclusion. Otherwise it will be a problem for him if he wants to return to his job. If he even wants his old job back." He checked the time. "Well it will be a bigger problem if I don't stock pile some food in this place." He leaped off the couch and headed to the bedroom to change.

He left all those morning musing aside the second he saw his son's face and the kids' faces when they showed up at the house. He hugged them all and went to work on dinner. Gwen got each settled in a room, with the twins having to share space for the time. Seemed it wouldn't be long until they were to all split up again.

Nigel was of different sorts than his siblings. He barely graduated and didn't really care for his major in drama. He confessed to his Dad before he left that he didn't really want to be an actor. He was good at it but he felt like he could be more. The boy looked a lot like Rhys, same eyes and noses with Becca's face shaped. He wore his dark hair long tied back in a pony tail and had both ears pieced. His cloths were always the latest and to the world he did seem a bit swallow because of his appearance. But his family and friends knew Nigel was a very kind young man and not at all vain. He just dressed that way because of his major. His father was rather confused when the boy donated his large wardrobe before they left.

"I can buy new not so over the top things when we get to Cardiff. Things that will let me blend in a little more and look just like one of the guys. I'm really a lot more than the clothes on my back. That's one thing I want to talk to you about, Dad."

Harry nodded watching his son as he started to pace a little. "Ask away, it is part of the endless job of a father, that is to be there to answer questions." He was amused when Nigel stopped to see if his father was joking.

"Are you going back to Torchwood? And if you are can I come along as well. I barely remember the place but I can remember being amazed with it. I know it is a lot to ask considering what happen to Mum."

Harry didn't move. He seemed lost in his own thoughts making Nigel very nervous. He didn't think the kids remembered how their mother died. He was sure he never told them. He never talked about it to them. That didn't mean his parents or his brother. Rhys Jr., didn't have something to do with giving them the information. Rhys Jr. did spend a lot of time with them after his last husband divorced him. Harry remembered it was at least three years.

"I'm not sure what I should do." He stood and walked over to the mirror. He was old, maybe too old for Torchwood. He blinked as he stared into his sullen eyes, the bags under them and his hair grey and miss managed. "I'm too old."

His son didn't miss any of the pain in his Dad. "You aren't old." He wrapped his arms around his Dad.

Harry smiled at his son in the mirror. "You were always the affectionate one. But I don't think that life is for me anymore. It is hard enough for me to return to Cardiff but to return to the Institute I'm not sure. The truth is I'm going home because your Grandparents are getting up in years. I want to be near them. Your Uncle Rhys isn't much help. He promised he would be with them, but like always he found someone new and decided to stay in Thailand. But I expected it form him. Now with your brother and sister gone. I guess it is the best choice for me. Your mother would have understood."

His father was always sad. The light left him the day his mother died. That Nigel understood. It made him feel sorry for his Dad. Years of the many working in some office pushing paper just to make ends meet. Putting them all through school and not ever once taking a vacation day for himself bothered Nigel. He didn't like the fact his father was so sad.

It also didn't go a miss that his Dad never wanted to date again. Nigel wondered if he would love someone that much that he would never need another. But it must be lonely to not find love in another human being. It made Nigel even more curious about his mother. What kind of woman was she to have such power over his Dad?

His father's resignation to his life didn't stop Nigel from trying to get into the doors of Torchwood. Soon after Jack left for London and AG was off to University in Manchester, Nigel started working on a way to convince his father to at least let him have a go at working for the same place his mum did. It would take more than his voice. He would have to convince his Uncle Jack to give him a go.

The sound of the shower this late at night was all too familiar to Jack over the last few years. He opened one eye to peek at the clock on his nightstand. It was 2 am. "Better late than never." He threw the covers off while sitting up. He didn't get his robe as he left the bed. He fell asleep in his Birthday suit waiting for NG. He was now wishing he had packed John off to stay with Ianto and Tam hoping to have a little alone time together. Jack missed the shaggy haired brat and wanted nothing but to make love to him as much as possible that morning.

The shower got to him though. It meant NG wasn't in the best of states from his latest jump. The steam coming from the bathroom was a sign NG had come back from that dark place again , the one that was cold and void of any life. Jack never did get answers out of NG on how he sometimes ended up in what Jack could only guess was a kin to nothing. Jack didn't ask anymore, just took NG to bed after the shower warmed up his bluish cold skin and held him close.

Jack sighed as he walked to the bathroom his heart breaking hearing the sobs along the way. He opened up the currents to find NG holding him self and shivering. "Before you ask, it was bad. I am in the right place right? You are expecting me correct?" Like all the other times, NG seemed confused at Jack's face.

"Yes, you were supposed to have been home yesterday. I did some calculating and I figured I was off a bit." He stepped into the shower gathering NG into his arms. He had lied to NG. He knew his calculations were off by a month. "Someday you will have to explain to me what it is that happens to you."

"I wouldn't be able to even if I could. It isn't for words, Jack, it isn't for human thought." He went for Jack's lips. "Warm, so warm." He rubbed up against Jack stirring those natural feeling of desire. NG put out of his mind the brief feeling he picked up on of Jack's frustration about their life together. He had enough darkness inside his head at the moment. There would be time later to help Jack with his. As of now he just needed to warm up his flesh.

Jack responded by deepening the kiss. He felt himself get hard as he took in NG's tongue to his mouth. Pushing NG up against the tiled wall he moved his partner's leg around his hip. "Let me warm you up." He said as his body took over doing what it did to NG so many times in the past.

"Jack, I love you so much." NG mumbled as he let his body be taken. The warmth slowly returned from Jack's attention.

When they were done, NG let Jack dry him off. He was exhausted physically and mentally. He loved Jack like this, so caring so loving and also so sad. "I'll try not to leave you again for a bit. I can see this is having an effect on you." He kissed the top of Jack's head while the immortal was on his knees drying of NG's feet. It didn't seem right all this natural devotion and all he could give this man back was heartache.

"Don't make those promises. You know you can't keep them. I'm not as sad as you think I am. I just get lonely even with all these people around me. But it is John I do worry about. He got predictably into trouble while you were gone by setting a fire at school. I'm getting tired of paying to keep him there. It was costly again and the Troll was making eyes at me. I know this school is the best, but I think we should remove him from there. After all he is fifteen and he can have the same lessons at Torchwood as there." He stood throwing the towel over NG's shaggy brown head to towel dry his hair a little more. The act made NG laugh almost allowing him to forget the seriousness of the conversation.

"I wonder if Mr. Packner might be the main reason for your hatred of the school! Jack, do what you want. I'm too confused to think about this now. But I did want him to be socialized maybe try art school. He is rather good at it. This is after all his Earth and he needs to learn how to live with its inhabitants. I don't want him thinking the only life he can have is one with Torchwood." He threw the towel on the ground and looked into Jack's eyes. "We already have one child with the Institute."

Jack answered "and another one that is an artist of sorts" before kissing NG so hard he made him light headed. Picking NG up he held him over the middle of their bed kissing him all the while. NG was tossed on the bed like a rag doll followed by Jack easing himself on top of his prone body. "Someone doesn't want to talk about this now." Jack smiled as he did his best with his hands to make NG forget the conversation.

Sometime later, the night air drifting into the sound of early spring insects, Jack caressed NG's shoulder while the younger man lay on his chest. He tried not to think about all the times NG was gone from him. NG once said if Jack needed to connect with a body, he didn't have to stop himself and he would understand a lapse in fidelity. Jack didn't want that but he did wonder if NG ever did when he was away doing whatever it was he was suppose to be doing.

NG could feel Jack's mind as it went back and forth with his feelings. "I know it has been tough, but I never have thought of anyone but you. Jack, make me a promise." NG asked as he sat up to look into Jack's eyes. "Keep an eye on them all, find our children's children and keep some of them close. Watch them and help them grow. Tell them about us, about Torchwood and keep all of us alive." He lay back down snuggling closer to Jack's warmth.

Jack froze at the sudden earnest of the request. He felt cold all of a sudden like NG was not telling him something important. "Hey," he said as he pulled him in closer. "What brought the doom and gloom on all of a sudden?"

"I can't say yet but I think I'm on borrowed time. I could be wrong but I keep sensing this pull at the corners of my perception, something that feels like akin to a spiritual calling." He turned into Jack's chest moving his lips over Jack's soft hairs. "I know this sounds weird but I bought you a present. I left it at The Hub. We can go see it later. But first let's drop this conversation and make love. I want you more than anything. Tomorrow we can deal with John. Actually the gift may help with John as well."

End Part 1

TBC