Author's Note: This is my second Torchwood story. It's a Doctor Who crossover, sort of, and it's helpful if you've seen the DW episode "The Unquiet Dead" before you read it. Otherwise, you'll work it out. This story was inspired by a (still unfinished and not updated in some time) Torchwood fanfic I read online in 2008, and I wanted some closure. It's not been beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine. I hope you all like it.

Thanks to GwackObsession, realtanna, kmmi95, The Tenth Doctor's Companion, torchwoodxx and Gwackers for reviewing/favoriting my last story (or me). Diolch o lawer iawn. (Hope I've got that right. My Welsh isn't very good.)

The story is set after series/season 2 and after the Torchwood radio play "Asylum" but before "Dead Line." It is helpful (but not vital) to have heard "Asylum" before you read this. Minor hint at something that arises in CoE, but if you blink, you'll miss it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or Doctor Who. They belong to the BBC and their respective authorities within - and of course all of us good TV Licence payers. We know who we are.

"Jack! Jack! Are you here?" The lights in the Hub powered up as Gwen entered through the cog door. It surprised her to find the Hub still dimly lit – it meant that neither Jack nor Ianto had been about yet, which was unusual for the hour.

Gwen glanced up toward Jack's office, wondering if she should venture in, then had second thoughts as she remembered what she'd interrupted the last time she went in there looking for Jack and Ianto. She couldn't face that this early in the morning – not that she hadn't enjoyed the view last time, mind you…

She shook her head to clear the image away and set about logging back into her pc, moving from workstation to workstation firing the others up to check for Rift activity, stray alien transmissions, wandering Weevils, and the other unusual things that were considered the norm in the world of Torchwood. It didn't look like any Rift spikes had occurred overnight, but she did notice a slight overall increase. She shrugged it off – the Rift monitor would warn them if there were anything to worry about.

She idly wondered again where Ianto and Jack were. The fact that the lights had dimmed meant that they hadn't been there in at least thirty minutes, which either meant that they were out on a mission (she checked the CCTV for the SUV – it was still parked in its usual spot, so that idea was out), had risen early and gone to get breakfast (not likely – Jack might not sleep much, but she had come in before to find a still-sleepy Ianto making coffee), had gone to Ianto's for the night (no way – Jack wouldn't leave the Rift un-monitored), or were in the cubbyhole below Jack's office. She still didn't want to check on that option, so she returned to reviewing the overnight stats.

Nothing out of the ordinary had flagged up on the Cardiff City Centre CCTV – the usual complement of drunks, footie fans leaving last night's match, couples holding hands on their way home – in short, people leading normal lives. Gwen sighed and closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead to ease the dull ache that had crept up behind it.

"Quid for your thoughts?" A soft American-accented tenor came from behind her and she spun to face its source, surprised that she hadn't heard Jack creep up on her.

"Why, are mine worth more than a penny?"

Jack's mouth quirked into a small smile. "Oh, absolutely. If they weren't, do you think you'd be here? You're not here just because you're gorgeous, you know."

Gwen rolled her eyes and blushed at the same time. Jack's flirtatious flattery always left her a bit flustered, even though it was an everyday occurrence. She shook off the comment – but not before he noticed – and Jack flashed his megawatt Harkness grin at her.

"Nothing much happened last night – don't say it," she held up a hand to stop whatever entendre Jack was about to utter. "It looks like there may have been a small, gradual increase in Rift activity overnight, but no spikes, so I'm just keeping an eye on it."

"Mmm," Jack responded, looking at the monitor. "Let me know if it increases any further. Now," he continued, turning to face her again, "what's on your mind?"

She glanced at the CCTV before answering. Jack followed her gaze. "Oh, not much."

"Just people leading normal lives? Is that it?"

Gwen looked at Jack and nodded sadly, closing her eyes. As she turned away, she felt Jack's warm embrace surround her. "Hey, what's wrong?" Jack felt his shirt dampen as her tears soaked into it and just held her, asking no more questions. After a few minutes, she stopped and looked up at him, eyes rimmed with red. "Ready to talk now?" he asked gently. Gwen nodded and Jack guided her to the battered sofa. They sat down together, still not speaking.

Gwen closed her eyes again, then began, "Normal lives. Sometimes that's all people want." Jack nodded, and Gwen continued, "But we aren't allowed them. None of us." She paused, then said, "Rhys is gone. I don't know where, or if he'll be back, but he said it was the last straw." She sniffed, then let out an unexpected choking sob. Embarrassed, she covered her face to hide the new tears that had started.

"Why? What was the last straw?"

Gwen sniffled again. "He said as if it wasn't bad enough me being out all hours, to find out that I'd spent the night in a safe house with Andy Davidson was just the last straw. Apparently, me spending the night with you and Ianto isn't half as annoying as me spending the night – entirely in the line of duty and always platonically – with my ex-partner who still carries a torch for me."

"Really? Andy still carries a torch for you?" Jack asked incredulously. "And Rhys is more worried about Andy making a move on you than me? He's more of an idiot than I thought – a lucky idiot, mind you, but still an idiot."

Gwen smiled, remembering the first time Jack had called Rhys an idiot. "So you've met him then," she managed, raising a smile from Jack. "Why lucky?" She looked up at him as she asked.

Jack smiled down at her, hugging her against his chest and kissing the top of her head lightly. He was saved from answering by the appearance of Ianto at the top of the stairs. "Ah, Ianto. I think coffee is in order."

Ianto took in the scene with a worried glance at Gwen, and hurried off to the kitchen. He returned a few minutes later with two coffees, handed them over, and headed toward the workstations.

"Thanks, Ianto. You're a lifesaver," Gwen said, raising the steaming mug.

"Don't mention it," he responded, still facing the computer in order to give Jack and Gwen as much privacy as possible. "Sorry to interrupt, but did either of you notice these gradual increases in Rift readings overnight?"

Gwen stood and crossed to Ianto. "Yes, I mentioned it to Jack earlier. Do they seem to be coupled with an increase in one particular part of town or is it just an overall increase?"

Ianto reset the search parameters. "They look to be higher around here." He zoomed the map in on an area that he and Gwen recognised as Llandaff. "This part of town is popular now, but there was an explosion in a house there in the late 1860's and after that people began to go. It's only been since World War II that people have come back."

Jack's head jerked up at the description. "Explosion? What caused it?"

Ianto shrugged. "Don't know. Reports said it was burst gas lines – gas was new in the homes there then – but some strange things had happened there before the explosion and people got worried, so they left."

"Was the last owner of the house a Gabriel Sneed, by any chance?"

Ianto searched the records. "Yes, how did you know?"

Jack didn't answer. "He died in the explosion, along with a young woman."

"Yes, his assistant, Gwyneth, was also listed among the deceased. How did you know?"

Jack still didn't answer. "I don't suppose there were any published drawings of Mr Sneed or Gwyneth?"

Ianto and Gwen shared a look before Ianto searched the records further. "Not that I can find, Jack. Why?"

Jack changed the subject, seemingly without reason. "Gwen, how long ago did your family come to Cardiff? The 1860's?"

Gwen hesitated before answering. "Yes, Jack, that's right."

Jack shook his head, the penny finally dropping. "He knew. All along, he knew." He turned and began climbing the stairs to his office. At the top, he paused before going in. "Keep an eye on those readings and let me know if they increase again."