The sound of the rift alarm filled the empty space of the Hub, where Captain Jack Harkness had been lying awake, always on alert because saving the Earth wasn't a 9-5 job. Cardiff was like the Las Vegas or New York of Wales, the city that never slept. Instead of gambling and rock 'n' roll, it was aliens causing mayhem. The city never rested, and the immortal had soon learnt how to live a life on less sleep, more coffee, and the regular scotch.

The bellowing alarms caused him to jump out of his bed, it wasn't much to look at, just a simple bed in the corner of his office. He didn't need to get an apartment, although he may be stuck in Cardiff, he didn't know how long that would last. He just knew it was his only chance of seeing The Doctor again. 100 years in and he was still waiting for that magic day to happen, but it would, one day or another, he would finally find that Timelord and get the answers he needed. Sometimes he questioned whether he would hit him, or kiss him, depending on his mood that day.

His feet jumped in to action as he monitored the computers, cocking an eyebrow in surprise. This was a huge spike, something they hadn't seen in a long time. No wonder the alarms were going crazy. Lately it had been the occasional spike, odd things coming through the rift, like weavels and what not, but the readings hadn't gone this crazy in a long time. Whatever this was, it wasn't good. Hacking in to the CCTV cameras, his fingers dancing away on the keys, wanting to get an idea of the magnitude before he got the SUV ready. And before he woke up some grumpy team members, they never did appreciate being woken up at all hours.

Staring at the CCTV to check what, or who had some through the rift, that was when he noticed something. Someone, who was clearly trying to walk away from the wreckage and keep going. They were determined, he had to give them that. But it was clear they had given up, a small figure was lying on the ground. They seemed to be unconscious and injured, paging Owen to make sure they had a medic on site ASAP. Torchwood always had to make sure they got there before the police, otherwise more issues and questions began to arise, and he couldn't deal with that right now. Why bother them with the paperwork? The dim lighting of the street lights made it near impossible to tell who this individual was, Jack squinting his eyes to try and get a good glimpse. They definitely looked human, but Jack knew better than most that didn't always mean they were human. Aliens were intelligent, they knew how to disguise themselves, whether it was through a perception filter or through masks and what not. Never go in assuming it's just a simple pink and yellow human.

Jack was armed and ready, Owen promising to meet him on site, albeit it was already grumbling about having to be woken up. But that was what he got when he was the only trained medic on the team. That and Jack knew he didn't exactly have a social life, no one did to be honest. That was something he hated, not for himself but for the others. They had one day been living their own lives and going out as and when they wanted, until Torchwood. Now they were practically bound to the job without any chance of a social life. They rarely had holidays or time away without being bothered. Almost like a prison sentence, most of them had done bad things in their past, but who hadn't? They were paying back in to society without anyone even noticing. The thankless heroes.

Jack grabbed his keys and gun, always be prepared, the 51st century he was taught that. The scouts honour. And the time agent honour for that matter, but that was always be prepared, mainly to ensure that they weren't caught out on a mission. His mind wandered as the SUV delved in to the Cardiff night life, party goers having fun without a care in the world. He did miss those days, it had been a long time since he had done that. A lifetime ago. He had lost too many people in his lifetime, meaning he had held back from having fun, from engaging with people. Maybe one day that would all change, but not any time soon.

The sparkling lights of the city faded in to the distance after picking up Owen, who of course was grumbling the entire way and insisted this better be worth being woken up for. Jack simply rolled his eyes and told him to shut up. It was easier to just be blunt with someone like Owen rather than beating around the bush. Jack learnt that fairly early on. As they got closer to the rift site, the navigation alerted them of any life signs, thankfully for now it was just the one. And they were alive, and alone. It had been 45 minutes since the spike and nothing else seemed to be coming through.

They cautiously approached the individual, Jack always had his gun on hand just in case. Aliens may seem harmless, and even humans for that matter, but their behaviour was always unpredictable. They might be hurt, they'll be scared and alone, and who knew what kind of training they had. One wrong move and things could go from beautifully calm and collected, to vicious and violent in a matter of seconds.

"Hello?" Jack called out as Owen got the kit ready for any potential injuries. The closer he got, the more he could feel his heart pounding beneath his chest. The slim build of the individual, they definitely looked female, the attire seemed to be from Earth. Simple jeans, plain top with a jacket. The blonde hair, he swore he knew that blonde hair from somewhere but his mind refused to let him go there.

She was gone, he knew that. But his heart always hoped that one day he would find it had all been some sort of misunderstanding. The Doctor's life never made much sense and neither did his companions. All these years later her face was still in his dreams. He shook those thoughts out, he couldn't get clouded by his past. That was something he had learnt to control over these few years, the past was something he couldn't change, even if he wanted to. What was done was done, he had to focus on the present. He could hear a faint groan as the woman tried to move, noticing there was shrapnel scattered around her.

What had happened to her? This was some sort of explosion, being even more conscious and aware that there was no other firearms or potential bombs surrounding them.

"Owen! Scan the area for any explosives!" Jack ordered as he knelt down, feeling his hand shaking. Why was he shaking? Noticing a chain with the last piece of debris clinging on to it for dear life. Some sort of transportation device, he had seen enough in his time to know what they looked like. But this was different, he had never seen anything like it, glancing down to his own broken vortex manipulator.

He lightly began to brush the blood matted hair from the woman's face, feeling his heart skipping a beat as he revealed who it was. He was going mad, he had lost the plot. He had to have done, she was dead. Not right now, but she was supposed to be. He had read her name just a couple of years ago.

Rose Tyler, Battle of Canary Wharf

She was on that list, yet here she was. It all felt like an illusion, this was some sort of twisted game. They must have known, they must be playing a trick on him.

"Rose?" He whispered, feeling her hand moving to meet his, though her eyes didn't open. She was injured, whatever she had done, whatever mess she had gotten herself in to, it had backfired. Literally. She had been in the midst of an explosion, whatever transportation device she had been using didn't have a shield. "Rose….what have you done?" He whispered, praying for her to open her eyes. Just something to confirm he wasn't going insane. Shaking his head as Owen appeared.

"Who is she then?" Owen asked formally and got everything ready, his medical kit dumped on the floor.

"Be careful." Jack warned him, his voice laced with sincerity and authority. "Be careful with her, you are going to save her. You hear me?" Jack insisted, it wasn't a question, he wasn't asking if she could be saved. This was an order. Jack Harkness had to see Rose Tyler live. For his own mental state and hers of course. He wanted answers, and as selfish as that was, he needed Rose Tyler for most of them. Seeing her pop up in to his life once again had only increased his curiosity and urge to find out what The Doctor had done.

"This is Rose Tyler, and Owen, if you do anything in your damn life, you'll save her. Because she — oh she is important."

A/N: This is my first fanfiction in a long time. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.

It would be greatly appreciated! A x