TEAM WORK

A Torchwood/Sea Patrol Crossover written for Jennifer Hampson.

Copyright Disclaimer – I do not own any of the characters from either Torchwood or Sea Patrol.

CARDIFF, WALES

Night had long since fallen inside the Hub and outside it. The lights were dimmed and only Toshiko's work station was still active, running through her latest computer program with the monitor off. Toshiko herself had long since gone home, as had Gwen and Ianto. Owen should have left – in fact, almost had – but at the last minute had realised he'd forgotten his mobile. So now he was rooting through the medical bay in search of the missing object.

His hand had just closed on it – why on Earth was it in the medical fridge? – When a small buzzing noise echoed quietly around the Hub. It was a sound Owen didn't recognise, but that caught his attention. Hopping up the stone steps and poking his head around the wall, he found his eyes drawn to Toshiko's station. The computer was still chattering happily away to itself, but wasn't emitting the buzzing. Cocking his head and moving further into the work area Owen jumped when he heard it again. Frowning slightly he twisted round, trying to locate the source. That was when he noticed that the chunky, metal column to the right of the small flight of stairs was flashing. It wasn't bright or alarming, just sort of pulsating with light. And as Owen drew in curiously he found that it was also the source of the gentle buzzing.

"Hmm" Owen reached out a finger and moved aside some of the thickly coiled wires that ran the length of the Rift Manipulator. He could still remember the time he hotwired it into opening up the rift to bring Jack and Toshiko back…that had seemed a good idea at the time, but not so much when it ended up getting him fired and bringing about the potential end of the world. "Good times" he muttered. If Owen was honest, which he rarely was, he didn't have the foggiest clue how the machine worked, just that it did. Toshiko and Jack were the experts, and even Ianto knew how to 'tweak' with it. But ever since the disastrous episode earlier that year, Owen had tried his hardest not to pay it any attention. But now…

He glanced around, wondering if he should go and find Jack. He knew the Boss was probably around somewhere – in his office doing paperwork, in his office doing phone catch-ups, in his office doing Ianto. Owen smirked; the latter seemed the likeliest… Except that Owen had seen Ianto leave with the others. "Unless he doubles back somehow…" As Owen studied the column he considered how naïve Jack and Ianto were, not to realise that he, Gwen and Toshiko knew all about their extracurricular sessions after, and sometimes during work hours. He estimated it had been going on for a couple of months now, ever since Jack returned from seeing his Doctor. "Whatever that was about... Perhaps he isn't as immortal as we think…"

Making a mental note to test his theory sometime, Owen gave up on the column. It was quite clearly not going to tell him anything, and it didn't appear to be anything serious. He would have a quick peek again in the morning. So walking back to his own station Owen pulled on his jacket and turned to go. Halfway to the cog door he froze…and patted his pocket. Cursing he headed back to the medical bay once more in search of his phone.

*** T ***

Gwen yawned as she slid under the covers of the bed, curling herself alongside her sleeping fiancée. Rhys was stretched out on his side, one arm across his face, mouth open and snoring softly. Gwen smiled to herself, this is the man that I plan to entangle, and reached out an arm to the bedside cabinet. She twisted the silver alarm clock towards her, and pressed her thumb down on the top button. The face of the clock lit up in a gentle shade of green light, and Gwen groaned. "One in the morning," she muttered, returning to the warmth of the bed. "Typical".

What was most frustrating to Gwen was that she needn't have been home late that night. They hadn't been working a case; there were no abnormal disturbances, and no unusual rift activity. Yet she, Ianto and Toshiko hadn't been able to leave until gone midnight. Owen had hung around a little longer, muttering something about his whole life in one stupid machine. She sighed as she thought back to the disagreement the team had earlier that day. Not a disagreement, a major row. It had all started when Ianto came in from the garage, having cleaned the SUV for the sixth time that week, and suggested politely that perhaps someone else could have a crack next time. Of course Owen being his usual sarcastic self had hinted that as, in his own words, his own occupation was Doctor and not tea boy, busybody or butler he would be having nothing to do with it. Then Gwen had felt morally obliged to step up for Ianto and have a good rant at Owen, causing Toshiko to suggest perhaps it wasn't entirely Owen's fault. And then, just as whole thing had spiralled way out of control, Jack had appeared at the top of the stairs and fired his gun. Gwen shuddered as she remembered the Pteradon feathers falling slowly to the ground. Do Pteradon's actually have feathers? It might have been a pigeon she thought hopefully.

Gwen closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. After they had fallen silent, Jack had called them into the board room, and calmly pointed out that it had been the tenth quarrel that month. He had then, albeit it unhappily, suggested going on some teambuilding exercises. Whilst Toshiko was keen on the idea, the looks of horror on the other three faces were enough to dismiss the scheme. So instead Jack had kept them behind to organise the archives, catch up on filing and clean out the morgue. "It's like being back in blooming' school" Owen had grumbled. "Is it?" Toshiko had asked blankly.

Gwen only hoped that it would be the last squabble they had for awhile, as they were starting to get on her nerves. And her nerves were getting on Rhys nerves and it was becoming a rather vicious circle - and she couldn't even recall what had been the original cause of the distrust. Even so, a less optimistic part of her brain wasn't convinced it was over, and as Gwen drifted into an uncomfortable sleep she thought; if only we could work as a team again.

*** ***

AUSTRALIAN WATERS

"Action Stations! Action Stations! We have a man overboard!"

The curt voice of the XO rang out aboard the Patrol Ship via the PA system, and from their various positions and decks the Hammersly crew sprang into efficient action. From his position on the bridge Commander Mike Flynn watched his team assemble on the main deck, and begin the process of releasing the swimmer. He half smiled to himself despite the situation.

"Good to see you smiling, sir"

Mike turned round, taken aback by the closeness of the voice, but relaxed on seeing the XO.

"Well, it's good to see they appear to have got past their previous difficulties, X"

She nodded, picking up a pair of binoculars. Kate watched as ET, clad in diving gear, leapt into the clear blue waters and started his swim towards the half submerged man further out to sea. The civilian was thrashing in the water, fighting desperately to stay afloat, and Kate bit her lip. She was amazed that the man, who had been thrown overboard by some Korean fisherman terrorists, was still alive. ET waved his hand towards the deck, announcing he had secured the man, and the winch began withdrawing them to the ship.

"A lucky save, sir" Kate smiled with relief.

"It wouldn't normally be..."

Kate turned her head, confused, to find the CO frowning slightly behind his own binoculars.

"Sir?" she prompted.

He sighed and, placing his hands in his overall pockets, started descending the narrow steps which led to the main deck. Kate followed behind, still a little perplexed. As their boots clanged on the metal deck Mike turned to face her, a serious expression on his face.

"These, squabbles...no..," he furrowed his brow, searching for a better word. "...disputes amongst the crew, they've been going on long enough".

Kate nodded, understanding exactly what he was talking about now. Roughly a month ago the slightest disagreements, whether it was over shore leave, what was being served in the galley, executive decisions or even who used up all the hot water that mornings, were becoming full blown scraps and occasionally brawls. It wasn't uncommon for sailors who lived in such close confines to fall out, but such disputes as those recently experienced on board were unpleasant, and also dangerous.

"It does appear to be getting better, sir"

Mike hummed in his throat. "We can hope Kate, we can hope. Now..," his sombre face broke out into a grin. "Let's welcome our new guest aboard".

*** S ***

"So I told her, I did, I told her that I worked for the government..."

"Come on Spyder, no girl's gunna buy that!"

"Well," Spyder took a pause to swallow some of his drink. "She sure did. Asked to see my badge and all"

"What did you tell her?"

"That I must 'ave left it in my other jacket..."

"So - please tell me she came to her senses and told you to get lost?"

"No," Spyder glanced around the table dramatically, a broad grin plastered on his face. "She said I should come back to hers, and I could draw her a diagram instead".

ET, Nav and Swayne cracked up, spilling some of their drinks on the table. The RO looked shocked, and Buffer reached across to slap Spyder on the back, causing the young mid-shipman to cough and splutter. Normally this brotherly gesture would have been appreciated by Spyder, but not tonight.

"Hey! Watch it!"

"What?" Buffer looked a little taken aback, but quickly recovered with a grin. "Scared you might break something?"

"Got brittle bones?" teased Buffer, Spider going a little red.

This made Buffer and the others roar with laughter, until they saw the furious look on Spyder's face.

"I'll show you brittle bones!" he glared at Buffer. The older man stopped laughing and looked suddenly concerned. He reached out a hand to slide away Spyder's gin and tonic.

"I think you've had enough to drink, mate"

"Get off!" Spyder slapped his hand away.

"Ok, calm down" Swayne said calmly, looking between them. The RO was sliding away from them unnoticed, wanting nothing to do with the fuss. He distracted himself by contemplating re-arranging his desk when he got back to the ship.

"No I won't!" Spyder scraped his chair back and leapt to his feet, only to stumble sideways. "You don't think I could take you..." he narrowed his eyes at Buffer.

"I know you couldn't" said Buffer modestly, taking another swig of his pint. He wasn't going to pay Spyder any more attention. He had seen the squabbles that had been going on recently, been involved in some of them too. But now it had gone on too far.

"Come on," Nav stood up and stretched nervously. "We should probably be getting back to the ship. Some of us evidently have a hang-over to sleep off..."

"I AM NOT DRUNK!" Roared Spyder suddenly, taking them all by surprise. His hand had smacked Nav's cocktail and Swayne's rum and coke flying.

"Ok that's it," Buffer took to his feet and, grabbing Spyder by the scruff of the neck, started to pull him from the bar. He smiled apologetically at the people watching with open mouths, and behind him Nav and ET quickly paid the bill. However, just as the party reached the door, Spyder lashed his foot out and caught Buffer in the shin.

"Ouch, you little..." Buffer started, but before he could finish his sentence Spyder had ducked from his grip and was raising his fists in a traditional boxing stance. Buffer was torn between laughing and groaning. He threw a furtive look about the bar, where most eyes were still focused apprehensively on them. This isn't the place, or the time, thought Buffer.

And then, just as he went to take hold of Spyder again, the mid-shipman lashed out a punch which caught Buffer on the nose. Ok, that does it.

From their place by the counter, Nav and ET watched with mounting horror as Buffer grappled with Spyder. They had no doubt which would ultimately win, but the spectacle was not one which had the Navy's respectable image in mind. And as if to demonstrate that point, just as ET and Swayne prepared to pull the two men apart, the CO and Kate entered. Her look of shock and his one of anger were enough to send a ripple through the watching sailors. Spyder was bent at the waist, Buffer's muscled arm around his neck like a hook. Although Spyder's hands were still scratching at the taller, stronger man's arms and face Buffer was taking no notice. He was too preoccupied with staring, wide eyed in dismay, at his two senior officers.

*** S ***

"You are relieved, Mid-Shipman" The usually taunt voice of the XO sounded suddenly weary as she approached ET across the dark decks of the Hammersly.

"Yes Ma'am" he flashed a tight grin, but on seeing her expression let it slide slowly from his face.

"Any trouble?" she asked, as he prepared to climb down through the hatch. ET paused, unsure whether she meant trouble as in Navy trouble, or trouble as in the recent outbursts. "Yes ET?" she encouraged.

"Well actually there was something..." but even as ET spoke he was dismissing it himself. After all what he'd seen, or what he thought he'd seen had probably been a figment of his tired imagination, or an after effect of that evening's tussle in the bar. But he caught the firm look on the XO's face and sighed. "I saw, I thought I saw a flash in the sky like..."

"A flare?" she was instantly alert.

"No ma'am, defiantly not. It was bigger and a lot brighter. Yellow and white"

"Where?" she insisted. ET sighed; he would never get down to the junior mess at this rate.

"Right up there, east of us," he pointed with his finger. "But I don't think it was anything serious. In fact I'm sure now that I was just tired. After all, I've never seen anything like it before and if no one else saw it..." he was rambling. The XO smiled,

"Fine ET. Get below, drink some coffee and don't let the Commander see that fine television. We don't need another fight to spark up, do we?"

"Yes ma'am" ET saluted, and continued eagerly down the hatch. Kate watched and tutted under her breath. Men, she thought. Kate had to wait for the next watchman to arrive so allowed her back to rest gently against the wall of the sea cabin. She was exhausted after the days' antics, and all she could think of was her inviting bed. The Commander had been furious, dragging Buffer, Spyder, Swayne, ET, Nav and the complaining RO into the board room. Although the latter four had been released fairly quickly they'd still looked a little shaken up, Mike wasn't taking lightly to the flare ups anymore. Kate wasn't sure what he had said to Buffer and Spyder, and she hadn't seen them again for the rest of the evening. Sighing Kate shifted to a more comfortable position and stared up at the sky, half in search of ET's mysterious light. She was sure that something must have happened to cause all the distress, but she couldn't even recall what had been the original cause of the distrust. Shutting her eyes for a moment the XO wished; why can't we go back to working as a team again?

Twenty minutes later and her replacement still hadn't arrived, which was annoying considering that watch duty was not part of her job. Kate was sure that he would be one of those eying up the new television, loosing track of all time. She let out some air impatiently and stood up to stretch. She would just have to walk along the deck and use the radio to hail someone on the bridge. The night air was cold despite their geographical location – whatever people said, Australia could be nippy at night, and even more so out to sea. This was another reason for her duvet appearing so inviting at that moment.

The various lights scattered about the walls and rails of the ship cast long, greying shadows across the walkway, an eerie side effect. But Kate was accustomed to it by now, and in her minds' eye could picture what the gangway looked like during the day. And then she was at the radio. Ok, let's get this little bugger to his station. She pressed her thumb down on the transmitter button and spoke clearly into the microphone.

"Bridge, this is the XO. Are you receiving". There was a small pause, before a crackly voice replied,

"This is the Bridge. What's the problem?" Buffer sounded sullen even through the radio. Kate could imagine him lazing back in the driving seat, glaring at the monitor. She almost smiled to herself, if anymore would wish they were watching the new television right now it would be him.

"Mid-Shipman Charlton has not reported to his evening watch. I am currently covering"

"Am I to locate?" he sounded a little brighter, now that someone else was also in trouble.

"Thanks. Over and Out"

Kate strode over to the rails and looped her arms about them, the sea breeze lifting and tossing loose strands of her hair as her body bobbed in time to the ship's movements. The dark sea rolled beneath her, inky black stretching out as far as she could see. Kate yawned wide and blinked her eyes, glancing at her wrist watch – goodness! It was only nine o'clock! And then, out of the corner of her eye, something moved – something in the water. She shouldn't have been able to see it but at that precise moment the ships light beam swept the starboard side. Kate's eyes widened. She had thought she had seen someone floating in the water. She strained to see again but there was only black, and the sound of waves crashing against metal. Come on, come on! Kate urged the searchlight. Hit the water! And then it did; revealing a head and torso bobbing unceremoniously face down in the water. Just as Kate turned, preparing to race to the radio something made her turn back.

"That's odd..." she muttered, frowning and leaning over to get a better look. The sensible part of her was saying that this person needed help, but the other half was sure something wasn't quite right. As the beam swept around again Kate narrowed her eyes. The person's skin looked green. A sickly, pale green. They might have been in the water a long time, she reasoned. And it didn't have any hair on its head. Could be bald. And it didn't appear to have any arms or legs. They could be under the water...and where were its ears? Kate was suddenly aware that she was shaking, and that the hairs on the back of her neck were standing on edge. And then, just as she leant a little further over the rails, unable to turn away, its head snapped around with a sickening crunch to look at her. Right at her!

Kate screamed, and fell backwards. Possibly as a floating body shouldn't be able to do that, but more likely because where its eyes should have been were two, gaping red holes. Her back slammed into the hard, wet deck, and she struggled to regain her feet. Kate scrambled to the radio and lifted the receiver.

"Bridge!" she gasped desperately, panting for breath, trembling in fear.

"XO. You're replacement has been found. He's on his way now" Buffer explained lazily.

"Buffer! There's someone, something in the water" Kate was jumbling her words, unable to think properly.

"Say again XO?"

"I said..." but whatever she said went unheard to the Buffer, as she didn't speak another word. He frowned, put down the receiver and reached across for the radio which connected with the Junior Mess. He would just have to tell Charlton to hurry up, and check that the XO was alright.

Down on the main deck, Kate had collapsed onto the floor. Her head was tilted to one side and her hair covered her face, her stomach pressed into the slight damp of the floor where she had fainted. A few inches above her head the radio was swinging, and the voice of Buffer was calling her name.

*** ***

CARDIFF, WALES

Jack groaned and rolled over. For a man who never dreamt he'd been having a surprising number of dreams lately. Blinking open his eyes, he waited for them to gradually adjust to the semi darkness of the bunker. A gentle light was seeping through the round hole in the ceiling, linking the bunker to his office, and for a second Jack could have sworn it blinked in and out of time, as though something had moved quickly across it. But then he shook his head and turning onto his side, put it down to the dreams.

As Jack Harkness fell back into his troubled sleep, involving dreams of pale green creatures with no hair, he had no idea that his four colleagues were sharing them. Or that half way around the world, five other people were sleeping disturbed too.

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