London, England

Sixteen Years Later

In a physics class in Coal Hill Academy the new teacher, a pretty, but not rather pleasant women with a blonde bob haircut, was appearing disinterested, looking down at her device, desperately wanting the bell to ring.

The female alien, having no way to get back home, had dedicated herself to the cause of Torchwood 4, as it allowed her to continue to be the solider she was on her home world. She had fought other aliens, murderers, cannibals on one memorable occasion. She had been around the world, learned a language and a half, and gotten very good with the weapons of this world.

And now she was stuck dealing with a hundred or so delinquents, waiting for what they weren't even sure.

The bell rang, causing everyone to get up and pour out form the room, except from one blonde-haired boy in preppy clothes, who was walking up to the "teacher's" desk.

Realizing he wasn't following her, a girl with long brown hair turned around and looked at him questioningly.

"I just need to talk to her a minute." He said, "I'll be right out."

The grey-skinned foundling had grown into a young man. He was trained in various forms of combat, (a lot of it by his fellow alien), had, had at least our near-death experiences, and had been an active part of the team for give or take seven years.

Unfortunately, he also hadn't had much experience with humans his own age, or humans outside of Torchwood really, so he was having a bit of trouble with the undercover work of this particular assignment.

They stood in silence, then the dark-clothed teacher was the first to speak, "Well, so far no one's shown any signs of being a murderous alien, or much evidence that aliens were involved at all, but I have got some odd energy readings all over the place." She pulled a rectangular metal device from a drawer, sitting in on the desk.

"I've been getting those, too." The boy replied, "I've never seen anything like them. Have you?"

The woman looked down at the device. "They're almost like the ones that damn riff in Cardiff gives off." She said, "But not exactly the same, but similar. What about your shadow? She try to eat your face off?"

"April?" The boy asked, "No, I'm fairly certain she's human."

"Oh, well, if you're fairly certain…" The woman began, her voice dripping with sarcasm, rolling her eyes.

"I'm sure." The boy restated, "I've seen no signs that she's anything more than a normal, completely human teenage girl. I did talk to her about the school, though, she confirmed the disappearance and the deaths and the circumstances of a few them were quite odd."

"And odd is apparently enough to warrant an undercover investigation." The woman said wearily, "What about the other students? Have you been able to get anything from any of them?"

"No." The boy admitted, causing the woman to look at her disapprovingly. "It's only been a week." He protested, "And I can't just walk up to someone and say, 'Hi, are you an alien or know anything about violent alien activity at the school?'"

The woman fought back a smile, then said, "Okay, since the only lead we have is the energy readings, I'm going to go over the areas I haven't gone to yet, and go over some of the ones I already have again, I suggest you do this same, and at the end of the day we'll regroup and try to make some sense of it."

"Alright, Mum." The boy agreed making for the doorway.

"Miss Quill." She corrected him, causing the boy to turn around, "It's Miss Quill in public, or at least here. No one's supposed to know we're in town together, remember?"

"Why is that?" The boy responded, "I mean, it makes no sense. What benefit does this possibly give us?"

"Soldiers follow orders, they don't question them." Quill chided in a disinterested voice, though she herself did not see the point of it either, "Backstopped covers don't grow on trees. "

"I thought I wasn't soldier." The boy countered.

Quill rolled her eyes. "Oh, good God, I said that like, five years ago." Then she looked at the boy straight on. "You're a still member of this this team, and I outrank you, so you do what I tell you, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." The boy agreed.

"And you're not fitting in enough." Quill added, "The others think you're weird."

"I am weird here." Charlie pointed out, sounding frustrated with that part of the situation.

"Well, try to work on it." Quill replied, then her look somewhat softened as she said, "I know it's hard. Believe me, I do, but I know that you can do this. Just, watch the others and copy what they do." After a moment to think on that she added, "As long as you're sure they're human. And they're not doing anything illegal. Especially if it's drugs."

The boy smiled a little. "Okay."

"Good." Quill declared, "Now, go on to class before someone notices something's up."

He started to go when Quill called out, "And Charles?" causing him to turn around.

"Don't get yourself killed." She said.

"You too, Miss Quill." Charlie responded, before leaving.

He started down the hall, carefully pulling out his own device, and hiding it in his jacket sleeve before catching up with April. "Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah." Charlie replied, "Just had some questions about the material."

"And she actually talked to you?" April asked as the pair began to walk.

"Come on, she's not that bad." Charlie retorted, having an urge to come to his guardian's defense.

"Exactly where were you before that you consider her 'not that bad.?'" April asked, mildly concerned.

"Well, she probably didn't start out that way." He tried, "Something had to happen to make her that way." Then, as if by some kind of miracle, the signal went off. "I just remembered I left something in my locker. Why don't you just go on without me and I'll meet you there."

Before she could respond, he was already halfway down the hall. At least until she called out, "I see what's happening here."

Charlie froze. "You do?" He asked, fearing their cover had been blown.

"Charlie," April, said, walking up to him, "You can't run from your problems. So, you struggle in LA, a lot of people do. Now, if you can get Miss Quill to help, I'm sure you can get Miss Foreman to."

"I'll keep that in mind." Charlie replied, "But I really do need to get a book."

"Alright." April relented, deciding not to point out that his locker was in the other direction.

Charlie followed the readings down an empty hallway, further and further away from other people. Suddenly they started to spike, as if there had been some kind if surge. "What the- "He said, looking around for the source of the surge. However, he could see nothing.

He went a little further, still nothing, but suddenly everything got cold. Really cold, and he could've swore he heard growling. "Is someone there?" He called out. No answer. The heard more growling. "Just come out." He ordered, grabbing the knife he hid, ready for a fight.

Then as suddenly as the growling started, it stopped, as did the spike. For moment, he wondered if he had just imagined it. He peaked around the corner, but nothing was there. He in every spot something could hide. Nothing. "Maybe you are losing it." Charlie thought aloud, "And now you're talking to yourself."
He walked down the hall back to a more populated part of the building, unable to shake the feeling he was being watched. He kept turning around, looking in every direction, but he would find nothing. He turned around one more time, continuing to walk, when he heard a clashand someone saying, "Not so tough now, are you?"

Charlie turned and saw four boys, two pining one down while the fourth was getting to punch him.

Acting on instinct, Charlie leapt in, grabbing one of the boys holding the other, slamming him onto the floor.

"That was a big mistake." The ringleader seethed, stepping towards Charlie as his other mook let their previous victim go, trying to pin their new target's arms behind his back. However, before anything else could transpire, Charlie gave the ringleader a good swift kick to the groin, causing him to double over in pain and starling the other boy so much he stopped all attempts to restrain anyone.

Charlie then grabbed the other boy and ran down the hall with him.

Once they got a safe distance away, they stopped and Charlie asked, "Are you alright? Did-did they hurt you? You know, apart from the obvious?"

"I think so." The boy replied, in an accent other than English, "Thanks for the rescue. What about you?"

"I'm fine." Charlie replied, "Does that happen often?"

"No," The boy replied, "They pick a new target every few days. I just happened to be that lucky person today." Then he rubbed his head, where these a welt forming.

"Did you hurt your head in the attack?" Charlie asked, concerned.

"First off, can we please not call it an attack?" The boy asked, "Secondly, it's fine. I just bump my head on the locker."

"Let me look at it anyway." Charlie insisted, trying to get the boy to sit down, as the boy was good head taller than Charlie and that was affecting his view somewhat.

"It's alright." The other boy said, resisting his efforts, "Besides, what would you be able to do?"

"My Aunt's a doctor." Charlie answered, finally, wining a struggle, "I've picked up a few things."

"That doesn't make you medically qualified to treat anyone. Not that I'm not grateful for the rescue." After a moment he added, "Can I get my knight in shining amour's name?"

Charlie looked at his patient, perplexed for a moment then said, "Charlie Qu-Smith. Charlie Smith." He couldn't believe he had almost messed up his name. He did his best to compose himself, going back to what he was doing.

"Mateusz Andrzejewski." The boy replied, suddenly amused at Charlie's flustered state, "So, tell me, Charlie, will I live?"

"Yes." Charlie answered, "That was never in much doubt."

"I know, I was kidding." The boy-Mateusz, explained.

"Oh." Charlie responded, getting up, then helping Mateusz to his feet, "Sorry."

"It's alright." Mateusz assured him, "Listen, I have to go, but hopefully I'll see you around."

"I think we have physics together." Charlie pointed out.

"Yeah." Mateusz said, smiling for some reason, "I think I remember you. See you then."

"See you then." Charlie agreed. And with that he walked away, wondering why his heart was beating so fast.

AN: Okay, normally this story will be updated on Saturdays, but with the holiday weekend coming up I wanted to make sure I got this posted. Also, there's going to be less author's notes in the future. Happy Thanksgiving guys! Please R&R. Even if you hate it, feel free to let me know.