Early update! Couldn't resist :)

When Jack surveyed the room he didn't see her at first. He didn't even think to examine the bony half naked girl snogging a man in the back. Then he heard her laugh and he homed in on the sound. His breath caught in his throat.

"Oh my God, Gwennie" he whispered under his breath.

He was standing just inside the entrance of the pub, hidden behind a curtain. It was a smoky dark room filled with loud men and a few sad looking women. This was about the same kind of bar he had been frequenting during his time away.

He stared at her, taking in her gaunt features and frail body. She wore her typical tight black jeans but they only served to show off her emaciated frame even more.

She was sitting in a burly man's lap and was engrossed in their kiss. He was touching her all over, sliding his hand in her pants and grabbing her ass, squeezing her breasts roughly, and grinding himself against her. The other men in the bar were watching openly. He noticed a few of them were even touching themselves.

He bristled with anger. No one should treat her like that. He couldn't believe she wasn't slapping the shit out of the man knowing if he had ever tried to pull antics like that with her, he would have certainly gotten a smack or two.

Almost wishing he hadn't come, he turned away and left.

The Gwen he once knew seemed gone. The woman in that pub was just a shadow of his Gwen.

XXX

Deciding he needed to take a walk and get some fresh air into his old lungs, he wandered mindlessly around Cardiff for several hours. The night air was bitingly cold and he wished he still wore his old coat.

When the sun started peaking its face up above the horizon, he found himself back at the pub. Wanting to get a drink, he took went in and took a seat at the bar.

"What will ya' have?" The bartender asked with a thick Irish accent.

"Whatever is the strongest thing you got" He responded.

The man smiled and pulled a bottle from under the counter. He looked to be in his fifties and had deep smile lines on his weathered face.

"Here ya' go"

"Thanks"

The bartender didn't have much to do. He had already cleaned up most of the mess from the night before so he causally leaned against the counter, scrubbing minuscule bits of dirt from its surface.

"Not from around here, are ya'?" This American stranger had peaked his interest.

"Neither are you" Jack countered

"Fair enough" The man smiled. "What's your name? Didn't I see you in here earlier last night?"

"Tyler.. My name's Tyler. And , yes you did.. I thought I saw a friend."

"You were eyeing that black haired lass weren't ya'?"

"Yes, sir. I used to know her. I came by to check on her"

"Wish ya' had stayed a while longer. I'm a little worried about the men she left with. I've been watching that there lass too, ya' see. She seemed like she had been in here a lot drinking more than is what's good for her".

"What do you mean you were concerned about the men? What about them?"

"Well they were getting rough with my daughter a few nights back. Poor Molly was just trying to serve them their drinks when they scared her pretty thoroughly."

"What happened?" He asked, deadly serious. He could tell Gwen probably wasn't making any distinctions between good guys and the dangerous ones and knowing from experience she was the perfect prey for guys like that; guys like himself.

"The leader of them threw my daughter down and I just barely managed to get him off her before things got real nasty. I banned the bloke but his mates still frequent here".

"When did they leave?"

"Oh, probably around four this four this morning?"

"Any clue where they might be now?"

"I know a few of them work at the Mill. They might be there."

"Thank you." Jack paid the man, shook his hand and left for the lumber mill.

XXX

He recognized the man from the pub.

"Hey there, I'm looking for a girl". He was careful to smile and seem non-threatening.

"Aren't we all?" came the reply.

"Well, you see, I'm looking for a specific girl and I've got reason to believe you can help me find her"

"Yeah?" He was distracted; not making eye contact and walking around writing on his clipboard.

"Yeah. You know Gwen and I need to know where she is." He allowed strength to creep into his voice.

The man paused for a second and looked at him. "I don't know anyone named Gwen"

He laughed then stared the guy down "That's funny because you were making out with her last night."

"Sorry, mate, can't help you." He walked away towards a group of several men in hard hats. They had previously been milling around looking busy but now had formed a pack. One man stepped forward. He had on a red hard hat while the rest were wearing yellow. It was obvious this man was the boss.

"Hey I don't mean to bother you, but I need to talk to your man there." He put on his calm demeanor again.

"Any problem you got with him you can take up with me." The boss said.

"See, I don't know yet that there is a problem. I'm just trying to find my friend. Your man was with her last night.. Actually, most of these guys were there. So, if anyone would like to help me, I'd be grateful."

The boss turned and addressed his men, "Well, guys? Anyone know what he's talking about?" he asked with sarcastic mirth in his voice. They all shook their heads and grinned at jack. "Sorry, mate, can't help you". The boss was standing there in front of him so cocky and smug, there was no way that guy was going to get out of this without a slug across the jaw.. at the very least.

"Well alright then" he said. Shrugging, and half turning away as if to leave, he swung at the boss, making full contact with his face.

The boss reeled back and plopped to the ground, taken back. His men stood staring for a split second before rushing his attacker.

A guttural yell escaped him as he smacked the first man to reach him to the ground. That was when the real fight ensued. He got caught in the moment, letting his disgust for these men and pent up aggression drive him. It was a blur of fists and shouts. He felt someone punch him hard in the stomach and another knocked him across the mouth but he continued. Punch after punch struck home and he found himself on the ground. He saw the boss standing over him and pulling out a knife. The other men were standing around him ready to kick if he moved.

The boss slowly approached, then slammed the knife deep into his chest.

"THAT takes care of business. Now get back to work, boys" The man said jokingly and slowly stood up.

He felt himself slipping, blood bubbling up his throat and choking him. Then it was dark. The darkness was familiar; it was a place of calm, of resting. With a gasp he was back, the light of the morning sun hurting his eyes.

"What the-"

He pulled out his gun so quickly the boss hadn't had time to finish his sentence before he fell to the ground, blood pouring out from between his eyes.

There was a moment of shocked silence before the next man moved to reveal his own gun and received a shot through the chest. The rest of the men got smart and backed away slowly.

He got up and pointed his gun and the burly man from the bar. "Get over here, bitch" he growled and signaled with the gun exactly where he wanted the man to stand.

The man sulked over and received a slug to the jaw. "Now tell me. Where is fucking Gwen Cooper?"

The man giggled and smirked at him. "What do you want with that whore?". He then found himself pushed up against a pile of logs with the American's fist closing around his throat.

"I'm not going to ask again. Where is she?"

"What happens if I don't answer?" Burly Man growled.

"You will die. If you don't answer, I'll shoot you, you and your friends. Believe me, no one can hide when I want revenge." His grip tightened around the man's throat, causing him to cough and gasp. "But if you do answer, you will get a chance to run".

There was a few more seconds of silence. "We left her down by the docks." The man hissed.

"Thank you!" Jack practically screamed, throwing the man down and spinning away quickly.

He tried to keep his composure as he walked away, needing to not let these scumbags see him frightened. He was very worried for Gwen. He had to find her. Hopefully he wasn't already too late.

'I'm three years too late' he thought sullenly.