"Ianto! Ianto!" Two days after the battle. Two days after Torchwood London came crashing down, figuratively speaking. The tower still stood, but all that was left inside was carnage. There was a list of names, those that had not survived. She searched the list for "Ianto Jones". She found nothing. Her blue eyes scanned the list and stopped on one. "Lisa Hallet." Lisa was dead? Just seeing Lisa's name confirmed her worst fear. Ianto Jones was dead. He had to be. His name was not listed, but the list was a work in progress. She knew that Ianto never would have left Lisa. It was nearly impossible to separate the two of them for more than five minutes. In a life threatening situation, everyone knew there was no way Ianto would leave Lisa.
Erin Connelly stared at that list for hours. She checked over the next two days but never saw Ianto's name on the list. She knew there was a good chance, though, that Ianto's body would never be found. She was there for three days. Erin considered returning to Cardiff to tell Ianto's mother, but could not bring herself to do so. Instead she boarded a plane headed for the U. S. Before getting on the plane she made a phone call. "Bobby? Hello, I don't know if you remember me, my name is Erin I'm - Yes, Seamus' daughter. I was hoping I could make a stop at - Thank you." She ended the call and boarded the plane, finally deciding to continue carrying on her father's legacy. Erin had no idea, when she left one week after the battle, that Ianto Jones was in Cardiff, attempting to work his way into Torchwood 3.
The plane landed in South Dakota. She had to catch a connecting flight in New York first though. When she arrived at the air port she had not slept in over thirty six hours. She was met at the air port by a friend of her father's, a man named Bobby Singer. "I needed to get away." Bobby had very little knowledge of Torchwood. He could not begin to understand why Erin left London; what she needed to get away from. The last time Bobby saw Erin she had been seventeen years old, it was for months before her father died.
"You've grown up, Connelly."
"It happens," she told him with a laugh. Erin was proud of her Irish heritage, her father's Irish background. Her voice however, her accent, was distinctly Welsh. She grew up with a Welsh family. Her father was rarely ever around, and her grandparents died when she was little. Erin spent most of her life with the Jones'. Her accent came from them, and from growing up in Cardiff. Her father always found it amusing when he would come home. He told her she was turning into a little Ianto. "How's Ellen and Ash?"
"I haven't heard from them in a while, but they seem well. Jo's getting' older." Just as Bobby finished his sentence his phone rang. "Speak of the devil," he said with a laugh as he flipped open his phone. "Ash? What? This is the fourth call I've got from - Well, yeah she's - Okay, okay." Bobby rolled his eyes as handed Erin the phone.
"Ash, its good to - "
"Erin Connelly, you tell me right now that I'm wrong. Tell me it wasn't what I think." His voice was more frantic than she had ever heard it. "Tell me those fake ass ghosts weren't Torchwood. Tell me it wasn't Torchwood."
The smile on her face faded instantly. She had no idea what to say. Erin had never been able to lie to Ash. When he had been in London, for the short time he was there before he got his ass kicked out it was an adventure. When he had been at Torchwood, they had their own club. They were like the four Musketeers (including D'Artagnan), Erin, Ianto, Lisa, and Ash. They were attached, brought together by Erin, Lisa, and Ash's background in hunting. She remembered the look on her mother's face when Erin said that Lisa was in London with her and not out on the road, hunting with her cousin Tamara. Lisa would be safe in London. That was what Erin told her mother. Erin told Ianto's mother she would take care of her little boy.
"I wish I could Ash. I wish I could. Its over now." That was all she had to say.
"Over? Torchwood?"
"At least just London. I don't know about Cardiff of Glasgow. I don't really care either. You were right to leave when you did Ash."
It was as if he could hear the tears in her voice. "Erin? What happened? What's wrong? No. I'll be there. I'll come to you, kay? Not that I'm givin' you much of a choice. You stayin' with Singer?"
"Yeah." Erin hung up the phone and looked up at Bobby.
"You gonna tell me what's goin on? This have anything to do with that Torchwood thing Ash was doin' in London a few years back?" Erin simply nodded. "Its complicated."
"Uncomplicate it then." They grabbed Erin's baggage and left the airport.
Erin did not say a word until they got into Bobby's car. "I don't think I can uncomplicated it Bobby. I don't even really know what happened. I just know that…" She took a deep breath and looked over at Bobby with tears in her eyes. "The only family I have ever known, the only friend…" Erin bit her lip, trying to calm herself. She had always been strong. "Ianto's gone. Lisa, Tamara's cousin, dead too."
"God, Erin I'm sorry."
"I told his mam I'd protect him. I promised her."
Erin took a deep breath, calming slightly as they drove. The ride was silent the rest of the way back to Bobby's. Several hours later a loud sputtering car pulled up, blasting Lynyrd Skynyrd, loud enough to burst the speakers. Erin ran out of Bobby's front door and threw her arms around the neck of the man that climbed out of the car. "ASH!"
Ash wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up, spinning her in a circle. They parted and looked down at her with a goofy smile that faded quickly. "Jones? Lisa?" Erin shook her head. He took a deep breath and hugged her close. Erin sat down with Ash, while Bobby was working outside, and told him everything that had happened. It was easier for her to tell Ash, than Bobby. Ash understood the dangers of Torchwood.
Erin vividly remembered Ash's first day there. She had only been working there for a few months when Ash joined. He got stares from everyone. He certainly had a unique look. Erin was sure the only reason Yvonne let him stay was because he was one of the best. There were few that were better than Ash at what he did. He was a genius. Erin was drawn to Ash. She found out shortly after he started that they shared a common friend, Bobby Singer. Shortly after Erin managed to get a job for a fellow hunter, Tamara's cousin, Lisa Hallett. She told Tamara that by working in London, she would not be part of hunting, that she'd be safe. Erin had no idea at the time, the price one pays for being a Torchwood employee. Erin was the one that introduced Lisa to Ianto.
Ash stayed at Bobby's for two more days before retuning to the Harvelle's in Nebraska. Erin told him to say hello to Ellen and Jo for her. Erin had nightmares for weeks after the battle. She stayed with Bobby for a little more than a month. She came and went on a few hunts here and there, but for the most part, stayed with Bobby. Erin was packing up to leave for good when Bobby came rushing in. "Wha's wrong?"
"I've got to go to Missouri for a while," he said simply. "Umm… the boys have been in an accident."
"Boys?"
"Yeah, the uhh, the Winchesters. I gotta go. You'll be okay? Stick around, take care of Rumsfeld for me?"
"Sure, whatever you need." She smiled faintly and watched Bobby leave. Erin had only heard about the Winchesters by name, and only stories of John. She was aware he had sons, but she had never really heard any stories about them, except rumors about Sam Winchester.
She stayed home with Bobby's dog, Rumsfeld, for two days before Bobby returned. When he came back he was not alone, and Erin finally got to meet the legends, or at least the legend's sons. They walked into the house, Bobby towing their battered car behind them. Erin stood from the couch quickly and turned to face them. They were taller than she expected. Both boys just stared, obviously not expecting to see her there. "Bobby, you take to adoptin' hot chicks lately," Dean asked with a smirk.
Bobby entered slowly, smacking Dean on the back of the head as he passed. "She's the daughter of an old friend. Seamus Connelly." At the sound of the name both boys looked over at Bobby. Erin knew her father had made a couple trips to the States, but had no idea how often, or that the Winchesters even knew him.
"You knew me dad?"
Dean smirked and nodded. Sam remained silent. "We were younger yeah. Doubt little Sammy here remembers him." He looked at Erin for a moment. "I thought he's Irish."
"We are," she answered. "But I grew up in Cardiff."
"Which is?"
She rolled her eyes and fought the urge to smack Dean upside the head like Bobby had. "In Wales." There was a pause and Dean simply blinked. Sam seemed incredibly embarrassed. "The U.K."
"Ohhhh." She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Hey! I'm not that stupid. I knew where it was." Erin burst out laughing at his offense.
It was a good ice breaker, eased the mood if only for a moment. Just as Dean realized he was smiling, the smile faded and Dean headed out the back door to start work fixing his car. Erin looked down slowly, guilt filling her. "Don't worry about it," Sam said quietly. "Its nothing you did. Our umm…"
"Bobby told me on his way back here." She turned slowly to face the much taller young man. "I'm so sorry Sam. I've been there, where you are. It sucks." Sam simply nodded.
Erin decided to stay with Bobby for a few more weeks. She spent most of her time out in the back with Dean, silently helping him work on his Impala. One week and three days. "Where'd you learn to do this?" Erin was lying next to Dean, under the car on the opposite side, so their heads were next to each other.
She looked over at him and laughed. "You do know we have cars in London, right?"
"Well yeah but isn't everything backwards?" Erin rolled her eyes and Dean chuckled. "Your dad teach you?"
"Not really," she answered quietly. "I didn't see my dad much. He was gone a lot."
"So, I ask again, where'd you learn this from?" He turned his head to look over at her.
Erin simply turned to look at him and shrugged. There was a moment when their eyes locked. She noticed the green flecks mixed with hazel in his eyes, giving them an almost emerald glow. It was only a moment before they quickly went back to work. Neither said anything for a few hours. After the pair climbed out from underneath the car, now standing on opposite sides of the car. "You're a little too attached to this thing," she said with a laugh. It was starting to take its shape again.
"Yeah well," he said with a smirk. He had such a cocky smile and Dean knew it. She was easy enough to read. Unlike most hunters he had met though, or maybe he was more like them. She reminded him of Bobby, of Caleb, of himself in a lot of ways. Hunting and this girl seemed to fit. Dean had always been of the thinking that hunting was not a world for women, yet she fit right in. He had no knowledge of her background in Torchwood, nor that such a thing as Torchwood existed.
The boys eventually left Bobby's. Before they left, Bobby had made a trip to Lincoln and picked up John's Sierra. As Sam and Dean were packing their things, Dean took Erin off to the side. "So, if you're going to be stickin' around this place you're gonna need some wheels. And you're hot."
"Thanks Dean."
"Anyway," he said with a smile. He took her hand and placed something in the palm her hand. "I don't want you ridin' around in a piece of crap from Bobby's back yard. Kick ass chick like you needs a decent ride. She was my dad's." He looked down for a moment. Erin was unsure if his hand still lingered in hers because he feared giving up the keys, or because of her. She was sure it was the keys though. "Take care of her."
Erin was speechless. She simply nodded and took the keys from him. Before they left Erin gave both boys a soft kiss on the cheek. "Don't go getting' yourselves killed or anythin' all right?"
"We'll do our best," Sam told her before giving her a hug.
Erin sighed, holding the keys to the Sierra tightly in her left hand. Erin packed up her stuff the next day. She decided after almost two months with Bobby that it was time to leave, to strike out on her own. "You've got my number. Don't hesitate to call Erin."
"I won't." She gave Bobby a hug before climbing up in the truck. She took a deep breath before starting it up and driving away from Bobby's and South Dakota. Before Torchwood, for a year and a half Erin had been hunting on her own. Before then she had gone with her father from time to time since age thirteen. She was incredibly thorough in her work, a trait she got from watching Ianto.
A little less than a year passed. Erin kept in close contact with Bobby, with Ellen, with Sam and Dean. Especially with Dean. Dean Winchester had an irresistible quality to him. Erin could feel herself drawn to his cocky charm. It reminded her of the rumors and the reputation Torchwood 3's Jack Harkness had, only from what Erin had heard about Harkness, his charm was not gender discriminant.
She enjoyed spending time with Dean, with both Winchesters really. She found a balance in them. Dean was her reckless side and Sam was her intellectual side. She could relate to both of them in different ways. Her attraction to Dean though was strong, and mostly physical. Erin was never what she would consider a slut. She did not sleep around. Yet when she was around Dean for too long she found he was able to easily seduce her. One more than one occasion Erin found herself waking up in her hotel room with Dean still lying asleep in the bed next to her. Each time she'd reach over him and find his cell phone, which would have a dozen hysterical phone calls from his brother.
She would not even bother calling Sam, since she was in the same hotel. Erin would simply get dressed and find Sam's room, knock on the door and tell Sam where Dean was. Eventually Sam knew that if Dean did not come back at night, and Erin was in the area he was most likely with her, though Erin did make a point of making Dean call his brother.
It was late when Erin got the phone call. She reached over to the side table and grabbed her phone. "Dean, its three in the morning. This better be - "
"I can't find Sam."
That was all it took for Erin pack up and be on the road, hoping to meet up with Dean. As soon as she got to where Dean had been he was gone. Erin called but there was no answer. She called Ellen, but Ellen had no idea. She called Bobby but no answer. It was not until a week later that she got a phone call from Dean. "Where the hell did you go? Don't fucking call me in the middle of the night and tell me you can't find your brother then fucking disappear like that!"
"I'm sorry. He called, I found him. We're okay. Sort of. He umm… he was possessed."
"Is he okay?"
"Emotionally or physically?"
"Both."
"I have no idea." She heard Dean take a deep breath. There was fear, pain in his voice.
"You okay?" Dean simply said "yeah". Erin knew it was not true though. He was so much like Ianto in that way. If something was bothering him he would never say. His motivation for that was different than Ianto's. Ianto never wanted to burden others with his problems. They were his problems. Dean had a reputation he was trying to maintain. It was different, yet so similar at the same time.
A few months passed, slowly, before Erin heard anything from the Winchesters again. She had just gotten to Bobby's; a week of rest, when Bobby got the phone call. "Erin," he shouted as he went running out of the house. Erin hopped off the couch and followed him. "Bobby what's going - "
"No time, I'll tell you on the way, get in!" Erin listened without question and climbed into the cab of Bobby's blue tow truck as he took off down the road. "That was Dean. Sam's been taken, he thinks it's the demon." Erin had nothing to say. So many scenarios played out in her head, none of them ending well.
None of them turned out like reality though. It started when Dean got a call from Ash. The three of them rushed to the Roadhouse, only to find it burnt to the ground. Erin and Dean searched the rubble. Erin was the first to spot it; Ash's watch, attached to his charred corpse. Erin's heart sank. She was the last of their group. Ianto and Lisa had died in Canary Wharf, now Ash. Erin was the only one left.
The pain did not stop there though. They pulled up in the Impala to Cold Oak, South Dakota. All three of them went running. Erin was beyond relieved when they found Sam, alive. Then in one second it all came crashing down. Erin watched a young man plunge a knife into Sam's back. Bobby and Dean went running. She remembered hearing Dean scream as she stood frozen in place.
The pain within Dean was searing. Watching his brother drop to his knees, adrenaline took over and Dean was sprinting. He slid down on his knees in the mud in time to catch Sam in his arms. "Sammy!" His heart shattered. A part of Dean Winchester died as he held his lifeless brother in his arms. It was all over.
But it was not. Erin left with Bobby only to have Dean and Sam show up at Bobby's doorstep a few days later. Erin stared wide-eyed. It was impossible. Completely impossible. Sam was dead. There was no way he could be standing there. Erin looked at Dean, then at Bobby and back at Dean. She knew. She knew then what he had done. Bobby took Dean outside, Erin was sure to lecture him. While hey were out there, Erin got some time with Sam. "Its good to see you, umm up - "
"And about?" Sam smiled at her. He had such a genuine smile, one that could not be faked. Erin loved that honesty in Sam Winchester. She hugged Sam close.
A few moments later Bobby and Dean came back in, along with Ellen Harvelle. Erin almost tackled the woman. The two held each other close, both devastated by the loss of Ash. Ellen explained how she escaped and later that night Erin led Dean outside. "How long?" Dean was silent. "How long Dean?"
"One year." They did not have time to discuss it though. Bobby interrupted them and told them to pack up. They were going to Wyoming.
A Devil's Gate. A door to hell. It'd been opened. Erin watched in horror for a moment as an army of hundreds of demons were unleashed onto the world. Flashbacks of the Cybermen during the Battle of Canary Wharf passed through her head like a nightmare. She rose to her feet and ran with Sam, Bobby, and Ellen to try and close the gate. Bobby, Ellen, and Erin stared as Dean finally defeated the demon that had plagued his family for over twenty years. She saw John Winchester, a man she had only heard about in stories. He was just as she had pictured him.
Just like that it was over, but it was only the beginning. They had to be ready because the war had only just started. Little did any of them know, that very same day, across the world in Cardiff, the Rift Manipulator within the hub of Torchwood 3 had been activated, causing a splinter in time and space, centering from that Rift. The splinters spread across the whole world. After the disappearance of their leader, and a pointless romp through the Himalayas, Tosh noticed something on her scanners. There was a surge in activity coming from the southern part of Wyoming. It was not until Jack returned that the team decided that spike in activity, and strange occurances in the U.S. was worth investigating. So, this new Torchwood embarked on its first investigation within the United States.
