Chapter One.

The sun was setting on a normal summer day in Cardiff, the sky a powdery red set across the horizon. Jack Harkness was making his way into the Torchwood hub through the docks, scattering away various tourists surronding the enterence that was cleverly disguised as an information centre. Ianto Jones was sit behind the bar desk, and gave Jack a friendly nod as he came through the door.

"Evening, Sir."

"Ianto," Jack nodded back, smiling. "Where's Gwen?"

The friendly smile warming Ianto's face faltered a little. Its always about Gwen, he thought, disappointed. "She should be studying some readings from the Rift with Tosh." The smile returned to his face, but didn't quite meet his eyes. Jack, completely oblivious to Ianto's darkened mood mumbled a simple "Thanks," and rushed off to Toshiko Sato's work station. Ianto sighed, slumping down in a seat in the corner. He picked up a magazine, flicking through it before his eyes slowly closed and he drifted off into a nap.

"Gwen, Tosh." Jack called, walking up behind Toshiko in her seat. "What's going on?"

"Take a look at this," Toshiko said, pointing to some readings on one of the many computer screens. "Its like there's something there, but it isn't quite complete. It is in the middle of the rift, but it isn't quite... whole." she tapped away viciously at the keys, producing more and more scans and pictures. "If you look along this line here," she paused, following one of the many lines of the rift with her finger, "then you can see a bit of it." She traced the outlines of the object floating through time and sighed. with a blink of an eye, it had vanished. Toshiko checked all of the graphs and readings, all now showing no signs of anything ever being there.

"But it was right there!" Exclaimed Gwen Cooper, looking up to Jack hopefully. She didn't like to admit, but she was closer to Jack than any of the other members of Torchwood. They were just friends, but she thought there might one day be something between them. She hoped there would be, anyway. Their relationship wasn't more physical, like her and Owen's. She and Jack could just enjoy a chat about anything, even about work. She would be the happiest girl on the planet, just conversing with him.

"There's only one possible thing that could have that effect," said Jack, his brow furrowed in concentration. He shook his head, "But it can't be, its impossible."

"What?" questioned Toshiko, "If I knew what it was, a little more about it, maybe I could check some records..." she trailed off, noting Jack's expression.

"There's no need," said Jack, placing a hand on her shoulder to look closer at the computer. "You're free to go home now, Tosh."

"I think I'll stay and keep checking for a while," she said, checking over some more readings coming directly from the centre of the Rift.

Jack looked up at Gwen. "You coming? I was going to go check on Janet."

"Its not like you to go and check on the resident Weevil," Gwen joked, sending him a grin.

"Well," he said, shrugging, "something to do, I guess. Are you in or not? You can go back to Rhys if you like, have a early night or whatever."

"I'd rather stay."

"What happened to holding on to your life while you can?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gwen sighed, and shook her head. "There's no point. We... We had an arguament."

"Oh."

"I think I'll get Ianto to order a pizza, okay? Be back in a second,"

Gwen walked off, but took the wrong direction and walked over to Owen's desk nervously. Jack rolled his eyes and turned back to Toshiko. She was checking the rift constantly, trying to search for an answer.

"He'll show, if he wants to," Jack murmured, turning to walk back to his office.

"Jack, look at this!" Toshiko said in awe, letting Jack's words settle in the back of her mind. I'm sure he didn't mean anything, she thought, turning around to alert Jack of the latest readings. But he had completely ignored her, and cleared off. She turned back to her desk and gasped. Whatever was coming, it had appeared again, stronger than ever.

Something stirred Ianto in his sleep. He groaned, tossing his head from side to side.

"Hello?" The voice echoed inside his head, not in his ears. A girl's voice. He couldn't place it though. "Hello?" it called again. This time he heard it, too. He opened one eye curiously. "Hello? Help me please," it begged, sounding scared. "Help me, I'm hurt!"

"Who's there?" Ianto sat up, looking around the room. There was no-one around. He was alone.

"Please! I'm so scared. Help me!" it must have been a little girl. He got up, searching frantically.

"Who is it? Are you all right? I can help you. I want to help you!" He cried, scared for the child's safety, and his own. He started searching around the desk. "My name is Ianto, I want to help. Where are you?"

"Please help, I'm scared." Ianto moved into a darkened room. The door slammed shut, and the voice inside his head screamed.

"Ianto," Gwen called, emerging from the hub into the tourist centre. "Ianto!" She looked where Jack had left him, but there was no sign of him there. "Ianto, are you here? I was going to order some pizza." She used her earpeice to call him. She waited, then the line spluttered into life. "Ianto?" There was a sob through the line that Gwen could barely hear. "Ianto, are you all right?"

"Please help me, I'm scared."

"Who is this?" Gwen's serious tone broke, nervousness creeping in.

"Who are you? Are you hurt?"

"So very scared... Please, help me!" What a poor little girl, Gwen thought, I wonder what's wrong? But I have to find Ianto. "Where are you? Where's Ianto? My friend, Ianto Jones. Do you know him?"

"Help me..."

The line went dead.

Jack wasn't aware of any danger until Gwen came running.

"What is it?" he looked up happily, but frowned when he saw her worried expression.

"Ianto's not there," said Gwen, catching her breath, "And something's taken him."