Gwen only half-wondered how she got herself into these situations. Its not like she invited emotional chaos to her doorstep. Okay, she thought, we just have to be realistic. Gwen had taken it upon herself to learn all that she could about anything in the Archives. Anything that didn't pertain to medicine or autopsies. She couldn't pour herself into binary and every click of her keyboard brought on a noxious feeling.

I wonder what it's like to be the rain maker

I wonder what it's like to know that I made the rain

There really was no hope for any of them. Shaking hands with Jack Harkness is almost like shaking hands with the devil himself. Well, she thought, it doesn't hurt that he's almost as charming and good looking. The devil probably wouldn't have to do much work. There were three large filing cabinets ahead of her she hadn't looked through yet. Save for Ianto's work, they would probably be rusted together at some point.

I'd store it in boxes with little yellow tags on every one

And you can come and see them when I'm done

When I'm done

Gwen had tried going out for air once or twice, but she almost preferred the mustiness now. She mused that maybe she was beginning to understand Owen's like for the indoor, the safe, the clean. His name stung a little less every day as she imagined it would. He was like a point, or a habit, that was fixed but growing dull and maybe a bit fuzzier each time. Owen never really approved of the Archives. He accused Ianto of trying to make him sick. He had fumed for a week! In response, Ianto had mysteriously replaced his favorite biscuits with Tosh's flavor.

I wonder what's it like to be a superhero

I wonder where I'd go if I could fly around downtown

The first drawer on the dull grey cabinet sprang out efficiently and she marveled at how feminine Ianto's handwriting was. Everyone else was too hurried to do things properly. Ianto was hurried too, but took a few moments. She was attracted to the way he crossed his t's. It was inventive and hid a spark to it. She was distracting herself. The names of past Torchwood operatives were all in this file, all as far back as Ianto could find notes and family histories.

From some other planet

I'd get this funky high on yellow sun

Boy, I bet my friends would all be stunned

They're stunned, yeah

In the old days, the Rift had been monitored, well, loose term as it was, by different families or by churches claiming demonic influence. Gwen shook her head, humanity was sometimes incredibly silly, or stupid or maybe both. Denial was a good term, a correct term. That's what she thought on the subject.

Straight up

What did you hope to learn about here?

If I was someone else, would this all fall apart?

Strange where were you

When we started this game

I wish the real world would just stop hassling me

There was one cabinet that was hard to pry open. Gwen found this suspicious and continued to pull until there was a small tinge of sweat and a dull ache in her arms. She looked around and sighed, pulling a pin from her hair. Her tongue roved over her teeth as she worked and the lock popped. Old James Bond dvds spilled from the drawer.

I wonder what it's like to be the head honcho

I wonder what I'd do if they all did just what I said

This was Owen's stash, she realized with horror. Even dead, he was still here. Of course, it hadn't occurred to her the Ianto would just let a memory like his pass. It was all cataloged and categorized, but there were some things on long nights that had to remain here for him, for them all.

Well I'd shout an order I think we're out of this

Man, get me some

Boy, don't make me wanna change my tone

My tone, My tone, yeah

Owen was always disappointed that he was never James Bond. He had gotten the girl once, or twice if you counted Dianne. He had shot at a sports car while Gwen drove, and had been excellent at it. He had been everything but in charge. When Jack had left, Gwen had taken control. He had tried to humour her, but he was so broken up that he hadn't the patience really. All he had to console himself with was weevils, field missions, and somehow seeing her as M, which had been more and more difficult to do.

Straight up

What did you hope to learn about here?

If I was someone else, would this all fall apart?

They had all been broken up over Jack's leaving, but Owen had held himself more responsible than anyone. Gwen, of course, shouldered so much of that blame. Ianto and Tosh had blame as well, but it was less and, well, without them maybe they'd have let Jack live and not die by Abaddon.

She had seen him once in a tuxedo. Owen had been dashing and charming, but he had always been eclipsed by Jack in suit. Everyone was eclipsed by Jack. Gwen wondered, what would have happened if he'd ever had had that chance to lead?

Strange where were you

When we started this game

I wish the real world would just stop hassling me

She continued to dig, trying to place the discs back into the drawer and shut it. Beneath a small pile she found an old cd in a plain case with the faded logo of Matchbox Twenty on it. She smiled and tucked it into her pocket. She decided to listen to it on her way home.

C/N: It's perfect Owen. And it's a song by Matchbox 20 called "The Real World" from their first album whose name I've forgotten. I own nothing, btw.