While Pete was talking with Jake and Mickey, Yvonne had not been idle. She had seen Pete and his 'friends' talking on their way out and wondered what they were up to. She turned to one of her advisers, someone who had recently turned against Pete.
"So Steve," Yvonne faced the young, slim man. "Now you're in my inner circle, time to tell me a few things."
"Err, what kind of things Yvonne? I can call you Yvonne now?"
"Stop being so nervous. Things like the low-down of all Pete Tyler's remaining supporters to start with. Do you think you'll be able to turn Jake and possibly Mickey?"
Steve didn't expect to have to 'turn' any of his former friends. He'd been well in with both senior Torchwood agents and especially Rose and he'd dared to ask her out a few times, just to the organization's charity event and the last Christmas party and she'd seemed to enjoy his company though Mickey had looked daggers at him on both occasions. Then he'd learned the two of them used to go out together when she had been adopted by Pete Tyler.
That alone had been a bit of a mystery, where she'd come from but she'd gradually talked a bit more to him about her past though now, Yvonne was expecting him to talk.
"Well, I'm waiting," Yvonne reminded him as the others left as she waved them out. "You lot, don't sit around all day doing nothing. I want a list of all the aliens we've repatriated back to their home worlds and a list of those who had nowhere to go. Get on with it."
"Yes Yvonne," came the united responses of the three remaining advisers, Gwen Cooper being one of them.
Gwen and Rose had been friends but Rose had never confided in the Welsh woman. Rose had been bridesmaid at Gwen's wedding and when she had tried to set Rose up with one of the groomsmen, things hadn't been the same. So when Yvonne was looking for allies, Gwen hadn't taken much persuasion and had been one of the first.
"What do you want me to do Yvonne?" Gwen asked as she dawdled.
"The real story of Rose Tyler? Yes, I know she never confided in you but she must have given you some hints as to where she came from?"
"You already know where she came from, it's in her official Torchwood biography," Gwen dared answer.
"Like I'd believe what Pete put out about her when he accepted her into the family. There has to be more to it, dig a little deeper Gwen and you and your husband might get a nice fat bonus."
"Yes Yvonne, I'll see what I can find out shall I?" Gwen asked.
Gwen and Rhys had been wanting to get out of their tiny flat in the middle-class area of London and Yvonne had promised the next vacancy at Torchwood Cardiff was hers, though that had been going on for weeks after that Japanese woman, Tosh something had been fired for taking Torchwood property home. The fact that the 'property' was something that had fallen into the woman's shoulder bag was immaterial to Yvonne, she had ordered her dismissal and that was the end of it.
"Yes, you do that Gwen," Yvonne yawned. "Right Steve, out with it."
"I don't know what you want me to tell you Yvonne. I had two dates with Rose. We were dancing and doing the rounds, her adopted mother was fussing over her."
"In what way? Like a real mother?" Yvonne asked.
"Yvonne, the woman was missing for three years, she's still a little out of it," Steve tried to explain.
"Yes, I know her story Steve, you can do better than that surely? So, did she fuss over Rose like her real mother would have done?" Yvonne wanted to know.
"I wouldn't know about that Yvonne, I hardly knew my mother, with her being a consultant in her own practice."
"Psychology wasn't it? You want sympathy? Well it's too late now to get close to Rose again unless?" Yvonne wondered.
"Unless what? She knows I've come over to your side."
"You could have a sudden change of heart? I could let it be known that I was displeased with you and threw you out of my little inner circle. You could go back to her and tell her you're sorry, then Pete will let you back in."
"But I don't want to leave your side Yvonne."
Yvonne shook her head. Really, what had Rose Tyler ever seen in him?
"It won't be for real, you can play both sides and still report back to me. What did she find so appealing about you?"
"Not that much, I've only been out with her twice Yvonne and I was hardly alone with her. The other few times, Mickey and Jake have been there, when a few of us went to the pub after training sessions. Mickey glared at me, I think he's still jealous."
"You don't say?" Yvonne mocked, getting nowhere fast. "Why do you think that is?"
Steve didn't want to say. "Maybe she's over him but not the other way around? Or maybe because Martha in medical won't give him the time of day?"
"Well, I'll just have to make her pay a little interest in him then, won't I? Do you mean that new doctor who worked at UNIT?"
"Yes Yvonne, that Martha. Owen likes her, that might have something to do with her ignoring Mickey."
"Well Owen can find someone else, I need Mickey occupied. Well go on then, anything else?"
Steve couldn't think of anything except Rose had stared at him when he'd first arrived, like he reminded her of someone. Who that was he'd no idea, how many tall, slim men had she known who wore a brown pinstriped suit and whose hair looked like he'd just got out of bed?
"Well, there was one thing Yvonne, she was very reluctant to talk about how Pete Tyler had adopted her."
"That's hardly surprising though, how many grown women get adopted after they reunite a couple who'd been apart for three years? Well, off you go then, you're fired from my services, officially from now so make it known around the building and hope Pete will take you back."
"Do I have to Yvonne?"
"Stop complaining Steve, the others will know you're just playing a part, I won't let them think you've defected so soon."
"Thanks Yvonne, that's slightly better. Maybe I should speak to Jake first, see what he thinks?"
"If you must. Why are you still here?"
Steve got up. "Sorry, I'll go find Jake then. Just one more thing. You're not really mad with me are you Yvonne?"
"What do you think?"
Steve gave her a grin and went to open the door, hoping she'd keep her word and the other's wouldn't think he'd left on his own.
Yvonne had a lot of work to do if she wanted people to betray Pete Tyler and join her but going by the meeting earlier, she was beginning to sway any doubters that Pete was losing his grip on things, especially when she was gaining new supporters every day. Her 'no such thing as a friendly alien' policy would soon be in force and those still on the planet would have to give up their status as 'visitors' and swear allegiance to Torchwood and the country they were living in or go back home and those who couldn't go home would be imprisoned.
Well that was a start anyway, that would keep Torchwood busy while she went on her real mission – get the aliens to think she was on their side then pounce on them. She reckoned it would maybe take a few weeks to locate all those who'd escaped first, then round up the others but she was certain some of them had been clever and covered their tracks well, without Torchwood's knowledge.
Maybe they had been clever but she was ahead of them, some had some help from Torchwood, that she was also sure of, maybe from those high up and she meant to find out to what extent. If she suspected Pete Tyler himself had anything to do with it, well she had enough of the board on her side to get rid of him, even if she couldn't actually prove it.
The next thing she wanted to do, after getting Martha Jones interested in Mickey so Steve could make a move on Rose was examine closer the circumstances leading to Rose's adoption. It had been very strange how suddenly, after three years, Pete's wife, whom he'd thought had been turned into a Cyberman had somehow been liberated and found in a private nursing home.
What Yvonne didn't know was the original Jackie Tyler had indeed been 'upgraded' and that Pete and Rose had been forced to leave her to her fate and escape from Lumic. That had given Pete the idea for her double to take her place and that Rose had been watching out for her and supposedly realising who Jackie was, had contacted Pete.
Only Jake and Mickey apart from them knew the truth, Jake going to great lengths to plant false records if Torchwood were to look a little deeper but now, it looked like all his work had been for nothing. What they didn't know was that Yvonne actually believed the story of Pete finding his wife and rewarding Rose for it, which was what Yvonne was really interested in but Pete hadn't confided in his two trusted friends just how much he was worried for his stepdaughter.
Pete had ended his call to Alec Hardy and called for Rose to come to his office. Rose helped herself to another coffee and sat opposite him.
"How are you doing sweetheart?" he asked as she sipped her drink. "You always make that too hot," he smiled.
Rose tried to smile back. "So, what happened at that meeting and why didn't you want me there?"
"You know why Rose, you know where Yvonne's leading things?"
"Yeah and you're letting her," Rose replied bitterly. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that."
"I know love, it's getting to everyone, well almost everyone. I'm really sorry Steve turned on us."
"He's easily led. He may remind me of someone but there the resemblance stops. I know it's not your fault but she's running away with things, who knows where she's gonna stop?"
"When she runs out of aliens love," Pete admitted reluctantly. "That's what I need to talk to you about. I may have to send you and Mickey on another mission."
"Again? Anywhere nice?"
"I can't tell you that love, it's just in case things get a little too out of hand with Yvonne. To everyone else you and Mickey will be going to investigate something but don't worry, he won't really be going with you, it's just for show. It will just seem that way. Just you be prepared to have to go at short notice."
"Yvonne's getting that bad? You never said."
"I know, I'm sorry but I didn't want to worry you but after that meeting, well anything could happen. How are you doing Rose, really?"
"I feel like staying at home these days but mum would drive me crazy. Besides, If I stopped coming in, it would look like I'm worried and I have something to hide."
Pete smiled. "You are worried and you do have something to hide. Let me find something else for you to do? How about you and Mickey going on a fact-finding mission?"
"Yeah, just what I need, finding more aliens. Won't Yvonne be doing that, if she's trying to round them all up?" Rose asked him.
"Yeah, I expect so. Just cut your hours then, do something else? How about we start work on that dimension cannon? You could go to training sessions, keep out of the way?"
"Won't she think I'm trying to bale out?"
"Sorry Rose, never thought of that but why don't you and Jake look into it, just in theory? She can't say anything about that?"
"I don't suppose she can? Yeah, it'll take my mind off things. I envy Tony these days, he's no idea what's going on and he'll be upset if I go away."
"You can just tell him it's work again. Why don't you go have an early lunch and I'll talk to Jake? Just leave it all to me eh?"
"That's all I can do. I thought I was doing some good when I passed all the tests to come and work here. Did I tell you about Yvonne back you know where?"
"Yes, you did and how your mum escaped, several times," Peter recalled with a smile.
Rose's message tone beeped and she glanced at it.
"It's Steve, says he wants to meet me for lunch. Who does he think he is? He's got a nerve."
"Maybe things with Yvonne didn't work out for him after all? Maybe he wants to make up?" Pete suggested.
"Well he's no chance. How can I face him now, how can I trust him? I'm glad I never really got close to him."
"Yes and I know why, really Rose, I'm surprised you never went to check out that detective, he looked more likely than Steve."
"That sickly detective? I just saw that murderer got set free. They must be so disappointed."
"I expect so but maybe the town will deal with him in their own way? Small towns usually do. Did you watch the rest of the news?"
"No, you called me," Rose grinned.
"Seems he solved that old case of his, those two cousins."
"Good, I'm pleased for him. At least something good came of it. Was the missing cousin alive?"
Pete put on a grave face. "No, sorry love, they found her body in a church yard. I can get you the details if you want?"
"No, I'll catch up with it. I wonder if he's still ill?"
"Why not find out eh? Go on, tell Steve you'll meet him, what have you got to lose?"
"My sanity, what I have left of it?" Rose tried to smile.
Having one man close by who dressed like the Doctor and one sickly detective inspector over a hundred miles away wasn't her idea of coping with the loss of the real one but she'd no idea how things were going to turn out in a short space of time.