A/N. Hi everyone, it's been a while, but i'm back with a new story. I have to be up front though and say that while i will try and update regularly real life is busy at the moment. The thing is i really missed my writing and i've had a few ideas going around in my head that i wanted to write about. I find that writing relaxes me when i'm stressed :) Anyway this story is going to be slightly AU because although all the events that we have seen on tv have happened, everyone is very much alive, so obviously it strays from canon in that respect. I do have my reasons for wanting these events to still have happened. There will also be plenty of Janto in the story. I hope my writing skills haven't got too rusty, and that you all enjoy. Please review they always make my day. Kat :)

I own nothing.

Chapter 1.

It was a Wednesday morning and the Torchwood team were in the Hub, bored. The Rift had been quiet for the past few days. In fact it had been so quiet even all the paperwork was up to date. Tosh was working on a new project, Gwen was reading a magazine, Owen was looking at something on his computer and Ianto hadn't been seen since he went up to Jack's office with his coffee an hour ago.

The silence was broken by the sound of Gwen's phone ringing. She picked it up off her desk and looked at the caller ID before answering it. 'Hi Andy, how can I help you?' This got the other two's attention, because sometimes Andy got them new leads. 'Ok…uh hu…' The only problem was they were only getting Gwen's side of the conversation and that didn't give much away. 'That's a terrible thing to have happened, but so far I don't understand what that has to do with us?' There was a brief pause then, 'She did?...Ok… What's the name and address?' Gwen managed to find a pen and started writing on the magazine she had earlier been reading. 'Ok, I'll give him the message. Thanks Andy.'

'Something come up?' asked Owen hopefully.

'Maybe, I need to talk to Jack' replied Gwen looking warily up to his office.

'Good luck if you're going up to his office when he's had teaboy in there for the last hour.' Owen smirked.

'I've learnt from my mistakes,' said Gwen remembering the time she caught them in the hot house. She tapped her comms and hoped that Jack had his on or else she was going to have to go up there with her eyes shut. 'Jack, I need to talk to you. Is it safe to come up to your office?'

'If by safe you mean is everyone up here fully clothed, then yes it's safe, mores the pity,' came Jack's reply.

Gwen walked up the stairs to Jack's office and took a cautious step inside, noting Ianto sitting on one side of the desk, Jack on the other. The fact that there were a few papers on the floor and the grin on Jack's face made Gwen realise the picture wasn't quite as innocent as it looked.

'What can I do for you Gwen,' asked Jack.

'Andy just called me.'

'Does he have something for us?' asked Ianto.

'I'm not sure,' replied Gwen. At the two men's confused looks she continued, 'He's at the scene of a double murder. Neighbours heard a disturbance and when the police entered they found the dead couple in the front room of their house. Upon further inspection they found a young woman hiding upstairs, presumably their daughter.'

'So far I'm not seeing why he called you,' interrupted Jack.

'I'm getting to that. Anyway Andy managed to coax the girl out of hiding, but she wouldn't say anything, well not until Andy asked her if there was anyone he could call and she asked for you.'

'Me?' Jack answered confused.

'Yes, you. Won't speak to anyone else.'

'Do you have a name?'

'Family name is Sanders and the address is in Grangetown.'

At this Jack visibly paled. 'Are you sure he said Sanders,' he all but whispered.

'Yeah, guy's name was Michael.'

'You knew them,' said Ianto softly reaching over the desk for Jack's hand and starting to rub soothing circles on the back of it with his thumb.

'Yeah we worked together. Did Andy say if Lexie was ok..? The daughter' he added at their confused looks.

'Apparently she has some cuts, but other than that he doesn't know, because she won't let anyone near her. Andy said she looked ready to bolt when the paramedics came in.'

'Damn it' cursed Jack standing up abruptly and pulling his coat on before storming out of his office, Gwen and Ianto hurrying after him.

'Jack, wait where are you going?' called Gwen.

'I'm going to talk to Lexie.'

'Then we should come with you.'

'No,' said Jack stopping to turn and face the others, including Tosh and Owen who were trying to work out what was going on. 'I'm going to get Lexie and find out what happened first.'

'When you say get Lexie, you don't mean you're bringing her here do you?' Gwen enquired.

'That's exactly what I'm going to do.' Jack paused as he saw all four of his team open their mouths to speak. He put up a hand to silence them. 'Look I know right now you have a lot of questions, but I don't have time. You need to trust me and I will explain it all when I get back. I promise we'll meet in the boardroom as soon as I'm back and I will tell you everything.'

'But Jack…'

'No Gwen, I won't be long.' Jack then turned back around and left his four stunned team members standing in the Hub wondering what had just happened.

Tosh was the first to react, hurrying over to her computer and typing frantically on the keyboard. Owen and Gwen soon followed to see what she was trying to do. Ianto meanwhile, went to the kitchen to make them all a coffee, although if he were to be honest with himself he needed a minute alone to gather his thoughts. His mind was whirring as to who this Lexie was and what she meant to Jack. He refused to admit that he was feeling a little jealous and hurt over the fact that Jack had kept this girl a secret; then again Jack had many secrets. He took a deep breath, he was being silly and he had to pull himself together. He knew that Jack loved him and they had never been stronger since the incident a while back with the 456 where he had narrowly avoided death. Jack had even started to use the word couple, so, he reasoned to himself, Jack must have a good reason for keeping quiet about Lexie.

He finished the drinks and then joined the others, 'Found anything Tosh?' he asked.

'I think so. Here look in the personnel files. Michael Sanders is an ex-employee.'

Ianto sagged a little in relief; of course Jack would know the daughter of someone he worked with.

'I didn't think people ever left this job,' remarked Owen.

'Well according to this he didn't have much choice. He was injured in a weevil attack in 1991 and had to leave on medical grounds. They still used him on occasion though due to his extensive knowledge of alien languages and great research skills.'

'Anything about Lexie?' asked Gwen.

'So far the only thing I can find is that the Sanders adopted her in 1994. Hang on.' Tosh kept typing, her fingers moving as a blur. 'There's something here, but it's heavily encrypted. Never seen anything like it on an old file before. Someone tried to make sure no-one would ever get into it.'

'They didn't know about you though, did they Tosh,' said Owen squeezing her arm gently and making her blush.

'Thanks.' There was silence for a couple of minutes before Tosh exclaimed, 'I'm in!'

'Never doubted it,' replied Ianto.

'Oh my…' said Tosh as she read through the file on screen. 'I think I'm starting to see why this file was so well hidden.'