Title: Finding the Unknown

Summary: Summary: finding an unknown life, one you should have lived how you would feel.

Follow Skylar, Shadow, Josie and Hellion to see what they do how they are involved with torchwood and the doctor.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Most if not all belongs to whoever owns torchwood and Doctor Who or friends of mine.

CHAPTER ONE

TO BE LEFT BEHIND

Four friends, that's all, just four friends, changed the lives of many extraordinary people with just a tale, a belief and their names. These four friends all went to school together; they graduated one after the other with the younger two graduating together. They had the similar dreams and interests all of which led them to these strange set of events. These events had them finding the greatest friends and family that anyone could ever get though some may say the strangest. They find out what has made them so special. They uncover deceit of people who they never knew. One thing that matters most is they find out where they belong.

Four friends were sitting in a room, at the boarding school that they attended, in a circle. The oldest, Shadow Storm, is a 17 year old who grew up being treated more like a boy, then the girl she was. She also has a thing for full length trench coats and for the fob watch and key that she was given as a kid. If you took enough notice you would constantly see her playing with the watch but never opening it, most found this strange but it is actually quite normal.

The next eldest, Josie James, is a 17 year old, only a few months younger then Shadow herself. Josie is by far the tallest of the group and always seemed to have an idea what you might be thinking about or what was about to happen. This didn't help steer people away from the conclusion of her being a bit bat shit crazy. The second youngest, Skylar Grey, is at the age of 16 and very immature. She loved the military coat that she has had for as long as she can remember and she would wear it everywhere. Even on the adventures that Shadow, Josie and herself get into; including the ones that boarder on insanity and/or life threating. Yet she still has all the qualities of a natural born leader.

Now the last member of this rat tag team is the youngest at the age of 15. The youngest is Hellion James, the little sister to Josie James, the rock and most sensible one of the group but that don't mean she is not crazy in her own way. Hellion was the glue that kept the group together through the toughest times and kept the other three from killing themselves when they came up with the next insane, life threating idea for an adventure. Without Hellion this group would not be able to say that they came back without a scratch or claim sanity. Even with all the differences they have there is one thing that they all have in common; intelligence. They are all highly intelligence but the hid it from past scrutiny. Even with all of this in their lives they are the closest group of teenagers anyone would ever be able to find and this is there story. It all starts in that circle, in that room, in that boarding school.

Shadow, Josie, Skylar and Hellion were sitting in the joint room of Skylar, and Hellion's just like they did every other day. The conversation today was, for a change, normal though it started with a random comment.

"I want to go to Ireland someday." Shadow said wistfully.

Skylar who was sitting next to her pipped in.

"Hell and I are going to Scotland and Ireland then backpacking around the world."

"You are taking me." Shadow Storm told Hell and Sky rather than asking.

Turning to Josie, Shadow told her.

"You are coming to, by the way."

Looking up from her phone conversation Josie nodded consent before going back to paying attention to her phone.

Shaking their heads, Shadow and Skylar went back to planning their backpacking adventure.

"Oh My God we should go backpacking with horses and dogs. We must we must." Shadow exclaimed excitedly.

"That will cost a lot you know," Hellion informed them, making them pout.

With continuous pouting Shadow and Skylar looked at each other before turning back to Hellion and said simultaneously.

"Kill the dream why don't you."

"Yes, why yes I will" Hellion stated amused.

Huffing the two went back to planning.

After dinner that night they each decided to do their own thing in their own rooms. On level one Josie was being her usual, crazy self, running around harassing supervisors, and other students by either talking a mile a minute, or blasting her music and singing at the top of lungs. The only time of silence was when she was talking in the phone.

On the second floor, Shadow was digging everything out of her cupboard to reach the blue prints she was working on, that were hidden in the false wall, in the back. Once the false wall was removed and the blueprints were laid out, she took a pencil and edited the plans as she went. She was building herself a gun that shot sonic waves. Her room was a mess with wires and gun cases all over the place, either to be used or from earlier failed experiments.

Hellion was the only one doing anything school related. Sitting at her desk, Hell was doing her assignments, along with helping the other three catch up with theirs, as they seemed to be a little too caught up in other activities. At the moment she was working on Josie's math assignment, but finding it hard with Skylar bugging her, with her mile a minute talking.

Skylar was in fact working on plans for what she called a Hover Board; her room was in the same state as Shadows, with all the wires everywhere. The vision was different though, as Skylar had some form of spirits in her hand, that she had hidden in the Air-conditioner too keep them cold. The other thing that was different was that she was making it hard, for Hellion to concentrate on what she was doing. Skylar was explaining what she was doing to Hellion in a speed that made it impossible for her to be understood in any form.

Fed up with continues babble Hellion decided to do something about it.

"Ok Sky can you either slow down and speak with laymen terms, or shut up. I can't understand what you are saying, neither can I concentrate!" Screamed Hellion.

"But sometimes techno babble is good for the soul; but fine I will be quite." Skylar replied

Awhile after she had stopped babbling Skylar found something strange.

"Hey Hell, is it just me or is it a little too quite?" Questioned Skylar as her nerves grew in intensity and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight.

Hell didn't get a chance to answer when all of a sudden a terror, and sorrow filled, scream filled the boarding school. The three girls on the second floor stopped what they were doing; they knew that scream; that was Josie.

When they got there Josie was crying while huddled in a ball, in a corner. Once she spotted Shadow her crying intensified. While Shadow went to comfort Josie, the other two got everyone else out of the room, so they could find out what was wrong, and what was going to happen. Over time they had learnt to trust Josie on her gut feelings that were manifested in the form of dreams; no matter how good or bad they were. Once everyone had gone and she had calmed down, they got her to start to explain what had happened.

"Ok now JJ, what is wrong? What's happened or happening?" Asked Hellion softly while, Shadow and Skylar kept her calm.

It took a few minutes of patient waiting that was filled with JJ hiccupping, and silent tears before, she was ready to talk.

"I could see Shadow's house, and hear screams and smell fire, but I couldn't do anything. I'm so sorry Shadow I'm so sorry…" JJ cut herself of with more crying, as Shadow cut off all emotion from her face. Something was happening to her family, and she couldn't help. While this happened Hellion and Skylar watched with fierce expressions as they crossed Shadows face. It took a total of 30 seconds for Shadow to lock away the emotions and comfort JJ, and leave everything else at bay. From those actions alone they knew there would be hell to pay if they ever found who had hurt her family.

Once Shadow was able to get JJ to calm down enough, they got the halls cleared and moved her up stairs to Hell and Sky's room. Skylar made sure JJ was lying down in her bed before they moved Hellion's single bed, so it was side long Skylar's. Shadow put JJ in the middle, while Hell got in on the right and Sky on the left. Once they were settled, and tucked in, and reassured that she was alright, Shadow sat on the end of the bed and started to hum the song called, It's my life by Bon Jovi. For some reason it always seemed to send them right off to sleep. After making sure they were sound asleep, Shadow got up off the end of the bed, took a few steps back before pulling out her phone and dialled home.

Ring ring ring ring ring

"Come on mum pick up please," Shadow whispered with fear.

Ring ring ring ring

"Please dad, please pick up the phone."

Ring ring ring

"Please sister of mine, please pick up the phone." Shadow had by this time lost all hope of JJ being wrong.

Ring ring

"A sound, anything, please." The sound leaving her was something someone would hold against her for a long time.

Ring

"Please even a bark of a dog, anything a single breath please." Shadow was desperate for she knew that the next sound was not one that she will ever learn to love.

Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.

With that last sound Shadow hung up the phone and put it back in her pocket before taking up watch over her three friends for the night, it was these very same friends she hated being apart from, not wanting to be stuck in a nightmare where she would watch her family die and while being able to do nothing to help her family. So instead she took watch to make sure the others slept peacefully while she cried silently in the corner.

The next day Shadow had pushed the tears back, along with all the emotions that were coursing through her body; wanting to be there for her sisters and make sure JJ was alright after last night. The sight that Hellion, JJ and Skylar had woken up was like any other morning; Shadow waking them up and pushing them to get ready for the day. The three could see what was put out there for everyone to see the warm looking smile, the bounce in her step and the sharp look of a weird mix of emotions that no one could ever decipher sitting in her eyes. That was what the outside world could see but for Hellion, Skylar and Josie it was much deeper than that. They could see the hatred, anger and sorrow in the depth of those eyes; the fake tone to her laugh and forced shine in her smile that made it look like it reached her eyes, and the way it was forced onto her face. But they knew that by the end of the day everything would be hidden so deep that even Shadow, would forget that those emotions ever existed.

Exactly a week later they went to the beach that was across from the school. They went for some peace and quiet. As per usual Shadow was wearing her trench coat with her fob watch in her pocket and key around her neck, while chasing Skylar, who was wearing her military coat, across the rocks. The only sound that filtered in with their laughter was Hell shouting at them to stop what they were doing before they got hurt. At one point Skylar had turned around to see where Shadow was and froze; as she saw one of her favourite characters form a T.V. show called Torchwood but when she turned around to watch her footing, before turning back, only to find he was nowhere to be seen. Shaking her head she continued to run from Shadow, thinking it was just her eyes deceiving her again. By the end of the next week everyone had seen a least one of their favourite characters from the T.V. show Torchwood. The giveaway was how they were dressed; it was identical to how they appeared in the T.V. show. They had spotted the Torchwood gang everywhere at the shops, at school, at the beach, even in the boarding house and yet; for some strange reason no one else had been able to see them or catch a glimpse of them.

By the time the end of the year came around they were not as happy as they usually were, this would be because, these holidays they were going to be spending it at a hotel in Nowra so they could help Shadow sort out all of her inheritance and her families possessions. Shadow went through the wreckage from the fire. She walked from room to room reliving memories as were Josie, Hellion and Skylar, but the three were also keeping a close watch on Shadow. Shadow had made her way to her parent's room where she had seen something shining put of the corner of her eye. She picked it up to find a locket with two words on it, two simple words, The Doctor.

After the reading of her parents Will, Shadow took the money that she had and bought a house just a few blocks from her old school, as she had just graduated, so she could still be there for her sisters. For the rest of the holidays they stayed in Shadows house to have a bit of fun and leave all their troubles behind. They played games and had a four person party for the rest of the holidays.

"Hey JJ can we play another game, please please please?" asked Shadow in a pleading voice of a child. This act had Skylar and Hellion on the floor holding their sides as if they would burst at any moment, they were laughing so hard while the Shadow and JJ were smiling at the sight of the happy kids. They didn't think that it would last much longer, they could both feel a change coming and it wasn't one they were going to like; they were not going to like it at all.

A few weeks later and Hellion, JJ and Skylar were half way through their first term of school for the year. Shadow had taken them out for dinner that night they had pizza on the beach and caught up.

"So how is school? Any real drama these days?" Shadow inquired

"Nothing really just the usual, but I am getting close to a prototype for my Hover Board." Skylar explained excitedly in a hyper voice, while jumping up and down causing the other three to burst out laughing making Skylar pout.

"Well done bub, I'm proud of you. I swear I'm getting first test drive." Shadow dibbs.

This claim caused an all out war between the four about who would get first test drive.

"But I made it," Skylar wined.

"Yer but I'm more responsible," Hell argued.

"But I'm taller," JJ exclaimed.

The other three turned and looked at her with identical expressions of 'What The Fuck'.

"That has nothing to do with it, and I'm the oldest so I therefore get first test drive." Shadow told them in a matter of fact tone that had them, once again, clutching theirs sides and tears running down their faces. After a few more games and silly arguments that had them laughing and playing 'till their hearts content, Shadow had to take them back to school.

That night was supposed to be one of fun and games, but nothing is never how it is supposed to be. After Shadow left the girls at school, they went up to the room that they now shared thanks to their parents knowing of their dislike of being separated, that had risen to new heights since the death of Shadows family and Shadows graduation, they didn't want to lose each other. When Skylar reached her room she was about to flop onto her bed but she saw a letter that looked of great importance. Reaching for it, she picked it up delicately wondering what could possibly be so important that it is leaving her with a growing feeling of dread. Hellion and Josie walked into the room just as Skylar had started to read; they could feel the tension in the air. It felt so thick that Josie really wanted to grab a knife, and test if you could really cut the tension in the air. Hell and JJ were brought back from a careless fight, by the sight of Sky going ridged before dropping the letter to the ground; just seconds before dropping to the ground herself. In a quick action Josie went to Sky and Hell picked up the letter and read it out loud.

Dear Skylar Grey,

We know you have had your jokes and silly moments about being adopted. There is something that we have to tell you; you are adopted there, now don't we all feel better. Now that we have told you, our contract for keeping you has run out so don't come back. By the time you have read this there will be paper working going through officially making that friend of yours with that stupid name that graduated last year, your guardian, and she will be getting a notification about it in a few days.

You're a freak and we are glad to be rid of you. You with your freak knowledge and freak plans with wires and freaky stuff. WE DON'T WANT YOU.

Good-bye

Looking up at her sister Hellion could see hatred and malice in her eyes, and thought that is exactly what her own eyes looked like. When she turned to look at Skylar her entire face softened and relaxed, but she had trouble keeping her face that way when she looked into Sky's eyes. What bothered her wasn't what she could see it's what she couldn't see that bothered her, there was nothing just pits of dull blue eyes that have no spark of life, combined with the blank look on her face and the robotic way she moved. If Hell didn't know any better she thought that she may have been just that; a robot. It was like Sky had retreated to the furthest reaches of her mind, this look had Hell frozen.

Skylar was sitting there on the ground where she had dropped like a rock after reading the letter her adopted parents had written to her. She could feel someone put their arms around her, probably meant to be comforting, but she couldn't register anything besides the fact that someone was there. The letter had started her to think if they didn't want her than who would, would Shadow want her would Hellion and Josie?

No they wouldn't she was a freak

No one wants a freak no one wants her.

With these thoughts Skylar retreated into her mind to a spot where nothing hurt her and all she could see was the blackness of nothing, and all she could hear was deafening silence. She kept walking around the blackness and silence until she came upon a chair and a T.V., which was playing what, seemed to be her memories of all the fun times that she had with her sisters, Hellion, JJ and Shadow. She sat in the chair reliving the memories, with tears running down her face and had her whole frame shaking with the force of the sorrowful and frightened sobs that were tearing through her body. When she saw some memories of her adoptive parents, she paid attention to their faces, the emotions that crossed over them, and to the way they acted around her. As she watched this she found something that couldn't be right; the way they acted and looked didn't match what they said in the letter, so why did they say it. She had started to calm herself down with those thoughts also evicting the thoughts of the others not wanting her.

Skylar had calmed enough to notice that there was somehow some sort of presents in her head. Turning around to find it, she saw Josie standing there in awe as she watched the blackness recede.

JJ ran over to her and tried to pull her into a hug but her arms went right through Skylar. Sighing and little freaked JJ stood there with a thought full look on her face before she started to talk.

"Sky you know that none of that is true right. You are not a freak, I mean look at me I'm the one in your head not the other way around. That's something that I have to look into later, anyway back on topic," that got a small chuckle and smile out of Skylar as she started to calm down, "What you were saying earlier about us not wanting you, don't you dare think that ok? Don't you dare." JJ stated fiercely with a stern expression that showed the protectiveness, and love that she held for her. That made Skylar smile, before turning thoroughly confused, because as far as she knew she hadn't said a thing since she read the letter.

Looking at JJ who was now sitting in the chair that she had just vacated her confusion grew, how could she be here and how did she know what she was thinking?

"Hey Josie I haven't talked since I ended up here, so how did you know what I was thinking? And how are you here?" Skylar inquired.

Now it was Josie's turn to look confused, of course she had spoken how else would she have heard what Skylar had said.

"Well I don't know how I'm here, but I swear you talked, how else would I have of heard you?" Josie replied completely confused.

Meanwhile outside of Skylar's brain

Hellion was sitting there rubbing her hands up and down Skylar legs in a reassuring way, when all of a sudden her sister went ridged and her eyes went blank. Scared as hell, and having no idea what to do, she pulled out her phone to call Shadow like she should have down earlier. The phone didn't even get to the second ring before it was picked up.

"Hey Hell what's up?" Shadow asked distractedly.

"When we got back, Skylar had a letter waiting for her from her parents," Hellion cut herself off to try to fight back the panic induced shaking.

"That's good right?" Shadow asked cautiously

"No its not she has closed herself off, and we were comforting her when Josie all of a sudden went ridged, eyes blank and I don't know what to do please help." Hellion said as her calm started to fail her and her panic taking over causing her shaking to increase.

"Ok I'm on my way keep calm bub, just keep calm and make sure Josie and Skylar are not in a position that they will be able to hurt themselves." Shadow explained before she hung-up.

Looking over the two who were still out of it she sifted them so they were laying on the floor side by side so they couldn't get hurt or be sore when they woke up.

Hellion didn't have to wait long before Shadow came tearing though the dorm, and skidding around the corner into their room. She also didn't want to see the expression on her face after she had given Shadow the letter to read either, it was murderous but yet full of understanding. Why, Hellion would never know. Shadow read the letter and was angry sure, but she also understood what was happening, and what the letter to Sky said was true, Shadow was her new guardian. She had only just finished reading the papers herself, but she also didn't think that Skylar's adoptive parents could be this cruel; even if it was full of pure intent. This one saying popped into her head; the road to hell was paved with good intentions.

Looking at her new charge (Skylar), and her sister (Josie), she noticed that they were 'waking up' and looking confused. Skylar had a massive set of tear tracks down her cheeks along with confusion, wonder, hurt and determination in her eyes.

"You know that we are never going to leave you right. Never. Nothing could make me leave you and never come back. We are the troublesome quartet and that is never going to change." Shadow told Sky, with the passion of her words written in her eyes to drive the point home.

"Promise?" Skylar asked timidly looking at all three of the girls in front of her.

"Pinkie promise." They all exclaimed at once holding out their fingers. They looked at each other and shared a smile.

After shaking all of their fingers Skylar jumped into Shadows arms making them fall over, as Shadow had squatted down next to her, she jumped, pushed her off balance, and all four of them had a good laugh at their predicament.

Once they had calmed down enough to talk Shadow asked the question that they all wanted answers to:

"What happened to you Josie? I mean I get what happened to Sky, but you, what happened?"

"Well I was sitting here just trying to comfort Skylar here, when all of a sudden I was standing next to her in blackness, and across from us was a T.V playing what looked like memories; I guess of her parents, and we talked. I am just guessing but I think I was in her head." JJ explained wearily hoping they didn't think she was crazy.

Sky was nodding her head in a positive yet shy way, while JJ was looking sad and dejected; she didn't think that they would believe her. The reactions that Hellion and Shadow gave were not helping JJ in anyway, as they stood there gaping at her with expressions of wonder and uncertainty. When they could finally talk, Shadow offered an explanation.

"Um this might sound crazy but you might have some sort of telepathic ability, I don't know but we would have to test it out, but this could be amazing. The things that we could do, the trouble we could get out of, oh the wonder…." Shadow exclaimed and kept ranting at a speed that barely anyone could understand but she cut off when Skylar added in a little bit of information that helps to support Shadows theory.

"Well that would explain why she said that I talked when I was a little too far in my head to think of talking out loud; also why people thinks she has an idea about what everyone else is, think it's because she can hear them," Sky exclaimed happily.

That night was full of theories and explanations, especially about the Josie's new abilities. All in all they had all these ideas that needed to be researched, but there was still one answer that Hellion wanted; the reason to why Shadow was understanding when she read the letter that was sent to Skylar from her parents.