Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood, The Last Unicorn or Something Wicked This Way Comes…much as I'd like to. No infringement intended….

Rated M for safety. Some swearing, also some sexual scenes later.

…

Tosh tried not to panic. She was sure that this was a temporary glitch and maybe one originating in their communication systems so she ran some diagnostic tests. After a fruitless twenty minutes (more than enough time to find the problem) she had to admit that the problem wasn't at their end and she was now officially allowed to start worrying. There wasn't any indication that the team had found the object either, it was still pulsing away on the monitor.

"We need to find the item and get gone before Tosh wonders what's going on." Gwen said "Knowing her she'll be going frantic right now, trying to work out what happened."

"Without her, this is going to be needle and haystack time." Owen commented darkly.

Jack thumbed the comm unit in his ear "Can all of you hear me?"

"Loud and clear." Gwen said, Owen stuck his thumb up and Ianto nodded.

"So, we have short range personal communication, so let's split. Cover more ground that way. This thing surely can't be big, but it is here. Rendezvous back in…" he checked his watch "a half hour." and he strode off in the direction of the big top. Ianto headed for one of the sideshows, the Hall of Mirrors, Gwen went towards the carousel and Owen headed off the nearest stall which happened to be the penny arcade.

Jack's POV
Why is something nagging me and I cannot remember what it is? I hate that. Like your brain is sabotaging you. Everything about this place screams familiarity and I cannot tell myself why…

Gwen's POV
Oo, roundabout horses, always loved them. There's so many places for this thing, whatever it is, to be hidden though. This could take us all night…oo, he's tasty. Must be the guy who runs the carousel. Try talking to him, maybe he can shed light on this.

Owen's POV
For God's sake, what a geek-trap this place is. Why did I get caught in this twilight zone tonight of all nights? Was going to a piss-up in the Horizon Bar later, Jed said there would be two girls I shouldn't miss. Now I'm going to do exactly that.

Ianto's POV
This place is creeping me out, its too grotesque. In this day and age, its far too retro for my comfort. God, I remember this, there was a fair with one of these when I was a kid. Hall of Mirrors, like a maze, you have to work out how to find the centre…

The Big Top was populated with a smattering of people in the audience, clowns cavorting around the centre circle, bumping into each other and laughing uproariously, spilling water over each other and throwing 'custard' pies. The little carriage that had carried the tiny woman in her showgirl gear was in the middle of the ring and she was swinging on a trapeze above. Her retinue were standing round below, waiting. She was going through her paces performing daring stunts for the audience. Standing on the swing, twisting her legs round the ropes and hanging upside down, twirling round and standing on her head, she did it all. Jack watched, entranced, wondering why it was familiar. When she came down, she was met with a scattering of applause but Jack clapped the loudest. She noticed him and grinned.

"What's a fine lookin' Gen'leman like you doin' here with us?" she said, winking suggestively.

"Admiring your act Ma'am" he said with a small bow.

"Thank you kindly Sir" She said "Walk with me." and she walked off to the back of the tent, her hips swaying as suggestively as she could manage.

"They call me Ruby" she said, by way of introduction.

"Captain Jack Harkness Ma'am"

"Oh, a Captain eh? Well, my fine Captain, what I lack in inches, I make up for with enthusiasm…" she winked again, looking him up and down "I'm sure you could satisfy…my curiosity, tell me why you're here, of all places?"

"I'm visiting, curious, that's all."

"Be careful Captain, you know what they say about curiosity and the cat?"

"And what would that be Ma'am?"

"Curiosity ate it, but he's a freak and that's what they do…" her laughter pealed like small bells. "Take heed Captain and take care. You won't find nothin' but trouble and strife and lies and deceits here. Go home, leave us and ours. Torchwood has nothing for us…" and leaving him rather stunned, she swept away between two caravans, vanishing in the night.

Owen found the peep show, watching grainy images of servants looking through keyholes at ladies undressing, if it could be called that, the amount of underwear they had on. "In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking, but now Heaven knows, anything goes…" he realised the refrain was playing on a fairground organ nearby. Too bloody right, he thought morosely, olden days indeed… he could be pulling some bird in a bar by now who would be wearing far less than these ladies were in their underwear… As he watched the flickering images as he turned the handle, one of the figures turned to face him. It was Jack, grinning at him. The words flicked into view and Owen stopped turning the handle in shock. The reel kept going though, kept scrolling despite his hand hanging limp by his side.

"Through the keyhole, many things can be seen…" the figure bending over looking stood up and turned to face him. "Face your fears and find the way…"

"Holy Fucking Shit!" he swore and jumped back, shocked to the core as he realised the figure staring back at him was himself.

Gwen climbed on the carousel and caught the eye of the man who she had seen weaving his way through, making sure people were seated safely. He swaggered over and leaned on one of the horses, his bright eyes looking her up and down. He was wearing black leather pants and a long black coat, spiky blond hair above blue eyes that gazed at her with amusement. "Now then, what have we here?"

"Hi" she said "lovely roundabout."

"Thank you" he said "You like the ponies?"

"Yeah, love 'em, ever since I was small."

"Well m'dear, you ride on these and you'll get the ride of your life…" he leaned forward suggestively. She smiled, leaning on one of the nearest horses for support. This guy was worse than Jack for flirting. He suddenly leaned in very close and his next words chilled her. "Before long, one of you will be dead, use the little time you have left carefully."

The mirrors freaked Ianto out a little, seeing himself reflected back ad infinitum. Still, the barber had trimmed his hair well at the back… and his suit did hang well across his shoulders…he paused to smooth the hem of his jacket, then he jumped when he looked up and saw Jack reflected standing behind him. Assuming the older man had come to join him he smiled and said "Hey, did you find anything?" Jack put his head on one side, not speaking. "You know, in the big top, did you find anything interesting?"

"Trouble and strife and lies and deceit, that's all you'll find here." he said, his voice toneless.

"What? Who told you that?"

"A showgirl. Why should I trust you Ianto?"

"What? Jack, what are you talking about?" Ianto was disturbed by this new twist of events.

"You betrayed us with Lisa, you nearly killed us Ianto, why should anything you say be truth?"

"Jack, don't do this…" He turned to face his boss. Ianto's face drained of colour. There was nobody there. He turned back…Jack's reflection was there in the mirror, beside him…Suddenly, another figure joined him. Silver metal glinted in the glass.

"Oh God!" Ianto stared, paralysed with shock. "Lisa!"

Gwen looked at the blond man blankly. What had he just said? "Who are you?" she asked and he smiled "Just work here, now are you going to jump on or not? Its free…" She looked at him and he held out his hand to help her. Unable to resist, she clambered on board, holding the spiralling golden pole that transfixed the horse through its body. The music started and the carousel began to roll.

Back at the Hub, Tosh watched her screen as the point of light on the monitor flared and disappeared. The blip that was the artefact had gone.

There it is…short chapter but I wanted to get this done. Reviews please…