The SUV raced down the Cardiff city roads, its blue lights flaring even in daylight.
"I never understood why we get called over automatically to any crime scene" asked Gwen, unsuccessfully trying to disguise her innocent tone from back when she joined Torchwood. She hated asking questions, she wasn't a rookie anymore but this question had been lingering on her tongue for a while now.
"Not many murders are committed in Cardiff, so when one does happen we get a call from our police liason and if it's suspicious enough of being caused by rift activity, we go in and take a look. If it's all fine and dandy we leave" replied Owen, sorting through his forensic tools whilst staring into her eyes.
"Which isn't very often unfortunately" quipped Ianto, sitting in the back and watching the scenery pass by through the tinted window.
Gwen thought about how cold Owen's eyes seemed at times, what it was exactly that made her think this she wasn't sure, she was even reminded that once she used to look into the same eyes with feelings of lust and passion, although she tried to forget the memories as soon as they had resurfaced. Rhys is all I want now she thought to herself, stroking the ring on her finger.
"Here we are" Jack said as he pulled the SUV against the curb behind the police cars and into the team climbed out and marched through the alleyway towards the crime scene. They strode over and Owen and Toshiko immediately began taking samples and checking for any rift residual energy.
"For once I'll admit this is a bit spooky" said PC Andy as Gwen approached him crossing the court.
"I'll notify Mulder and Scully at once" Gwen quipped, with a school girlish giggle. Her eyes found the iced fragments scattered on the concrete and for a moment she thought it was broken glass, but when she began to notice that a shard of glass was in fact an arm she fought to stop herself from throwing up. Owen was crouched down, trying to find a way to store the pieces.
"If it helps, I can go fetch the cooler from the SUV that I put your lunches in" said Ianto.
Owen looked up at him, not knowing if Ianto was being serious or trying to break the tension but decided that it wasn't a bad idea regardless.
"A bit spooky? Understatement of the bloody century there Andy" said Gwen, with wonder and disgust in her voice.
"Seriously fucked up is what it is" said Owen, holding in his hands half of the girl's face. It was hard but felt fragile enough that it worried him it could crumble with slight pressure. It was hard to believe that she had been alive only hours ago.
Tosh studied the readings she had gathered and shared them with the rest of the team.
"There's still a large trace of residual energy here, so last night when the attack happened it must have been huge. It even took out the surrounding street lamps" Owen blinked hard and frowned at her.
"Tosh, the street lamps are out because it's day time".
"No, she's right" Said Jack. "It's just passed eight, the street lamps are still on at this time. We'll check CCTV, see what we can get from that".
Owen heaved the cooler by its handle and gently dropped it inside the SUV. Gwen stood a few feet away, as if in a trance.
"Gwen? You ok?" asked Jack, placing his hand on her shoulder. Her eyes quickly darted to meet his and she shook her head, like shaking off a feeling or thought.
"I'm fine, thank you Jack" said Gwen, unconvincingly trying to assure him that she was fine. She climbed into the SUV and remained silent for the rest of the ride back to the hub.
Owen had put together the shattered pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, and there she lied on the autopsy table. A few holes here and there where the fragments had been too tiny to fit or find. Gwen stared at it, trying to believe that she was in fact a real person. Had been a real person. Toshiko sat down on the third bottom stair.
Gwen knew Owen was lecturing about the status of the body and Tosh would now and again read out residual energy levels but she wasn't really paying attention. A horrible way to die Gwen thought, you can still see the fear on her face. What the hell did this?
"Gwen? Gwen did you hear what I said?" Tosh asked, having moved from the stairs and now beside her. Gwen took a second or two before turning to look at Tosh and then the rest of the team, realising they we all looking at her.
"I need some fresh air" she said and she moved towards the exit as swiftly as she could.