It had taken over a year, but Evan had finally converted the warehouse into a decent living and work space. The majority of the upper floor of the warehouse consisted of a well equipped kitchen and roomy studio space. The rest was an airy bedroom and living space. He liked keeping the high crank windows open to the air. The downstairs rental studios were also coming together nicely. Soon, he'd be ready to start renting them to some of the local artists he'd met at various events. The roof was slowly turning into a lovely garden. He loved to be up there at night, flat on his back just gazing up at the sky. He just wished there wasn't so much light bleed from the city hiding the stars.

With his loft finished, he'd invited Jack to come to dinner to celebrate. He was softly smiling as he chopped up vegetables. He had more than the loft to be happy about. He'd also finally passed his firearms qualification. He was now on official rotation as a full team member. Alex had been the last to cave in and he'd done so grudgingly. But he had and that was all that mattered. Evan heard the lift kick on and knew Jack had arrived. He'd only given Jack and Gwen the keys to the place in case of emergencies. He had the third set.

He came into the loft in a swirl of coat and pheromones. "Hey, sexy. Whatever's for dinner smells damned good." He leaned in and kissed Evan's cheek.

"Hey, when you sit the watch all the time and run out of things to do, Food Network is good study material." He smiled. He loved cooking, especially when he could share it with his friends. "It'll be ready in about twenty once I finish the salad."

"Rabbit food?" Jack made a face.

"Not just rabbit food." Evan chuckled. "Besides, you'll want all of these beautiful vitamins tonight."

Jack rested his chin on his shoulder, grinning. "Promise?"

He paused his chopping long enough to turn his head and have a kiss. "I promise."

"I brought the wine so it's a proper celebration." He pulled back to set the bag he carried on the large center island and take off his coat.

"Ah, good." He finished the chopping and swept the vegetables into the bowl with the rest before tossing them together. He turned to face Jack and smiled. "Look at you. All dressed up just for me?"

He had dressed up a little: nice shirt, dress slacks, brocade fronted vest and smartly shined shoes. "Special occasion." He grinned. "I thought I'd give you a present to unwrap."

"I do love a good present." He hugged him, breathing in that enticing scent. It always filled him with a sense of ease and comfort as well as desire. Jack tilted his chin up, fingertips touching the edges of his smile. There was a wistful look on his face. "What?"

Jack seemed to shake himself out of a reverie. "Nothing. You just have a gorgeous smile."

"I'm not the only one." He kissed him. "Come on, Let's crack that wine, hmm?"

They spent the evening enjoying both the meal and each other. After dinner, they cuddled up on the sofa listening to music as cool air swirled down from the open windows. Evan smiled as "Moonlight Serenade" began to play.

"I love this song." Jack breathed the words across his ear.

"I know." He took up Jack's hand from where it rested on his belly and kissed his fingers.

Jack shifted. "Dance with me."

"Okay."

He slid to his feet and Jack moved him to the open space in front of the fireplace. They moved together and Evan felt like he was drowning in Jack's eyes. By the end of the song, they were back on the sofa, undressing and caressing one another. It wasn't just sex; it was slow, tender and passionate. At the end, they were tangled together and sated, both smiling.

"That's was…." Jack's words trailed off in a slow exhalation.

"Amazing." Evan nuzzled his neck gently.

"Yes."

I love him. I do, thought Evan. I don't want to hide from him anymore.

He knew that Jack didn't sleep when they were together. He would lie there awake all night. Gwen had said Jack didn't sleep at all as far as she knew. It seemed to be part of his immortality. But Evan knew why he didn't sleep. He breathed in their combined scent deeply and considered for several long moments.

"Jack?"

"Mmm?"

"You never sleep. Is it because you just don't, can't or won't?"

Jack closed his eyes, brows drawing together. "There's a difference?"

"Yes, there is." He looked at him expectantly. Jack let out a long sigh. "It's dreams isn't it?"

He didn't look at him. "Bad memories…."

"Have you ever considered that not sleeping is harming you? The theory is that not sleeping can drive a person crazy over the long term."

"Drive me crazy? Too late for that." He smirked

Evan caressed his cheek gently. "Jack, what if… what if I could help you sleep without all of that?"

Jack looked at him in confusion. "How?"

This is it. Time to come clean. He wound his mind carefully into Jack's. Like this.

Jack startled, trying to pull away. "You… you're a telepath?"

Evan held him. Jack, please, don't pull away.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Evan took a shivery breath. Think about it, Jack. How weird are people about feeling like someone is picking their brains?

"Very. They mostly don't realize that being in their heads is the last thing you want." He settled back down, unable to bear the hurt that pulling away had put on Evan's face.

Don't tell anyone? Please?

He took a deep breath. "I won't. I promise."

Evan relaxed visibly. Let me try to help you. I think I can. Trust me?

Jack stroked his dark curls gently, swallowing visibly. "I do trust you."

Evan shifted to his back, pulling Jack with him until his head rested on his chest. Then breathe deep. Relax. Listen to my heart, Jack. Let me sing you to sleep.

It was instinct, really. There was a wordless song in him with a deep chiming heartbeat that ebbed and flowed like a great tide. It seemed to him that it had always been there. He let it drift upward and bleed across to Jack's mind. Jack took a sharp breath and fought the urge to pull away. In moments he no longer wished to pull away. He felt peace begin to fill him, warm and sweet like hot cocoa being poured into a long unused mug. He'd never felt anything like it. It encompassed him, filled every sense and every pore. Soon enough it felt like floating in a warm, calm sea with Evan's arm's wrapped around him protectively, keeping away the dark things that crawled in his consciousness. All around them was a vast, velvety, sparkling place which sang in harmony with Evan. Soon he was sound asleep and Evan's lips curled into a soft smile, the song continuing its soft thrum between them.

"I love you, Jack." He whispered the words into Jack's hair with a gentle kiss.

Evan was awake long before Jack was. He absently stroked Jack's hair as he watched him sleep peacefully. He knew that, while he had also slept, he had kept the darkness that had made Jack afraid to sleep at bay. In time, he could feel Jack floating back up from the depths of his slumber. His eyes fluttered open and he looked a little confused at first.

"I… I slept. I slept through the night." Evan just smiled, brown eyes seeming to almost glow in the sunlight streaming down from the high windows. He let out an amused huff of breath that tickled across his lover's bare skin. "It's weird. I'm usually the one with someone waking up on my chest."

Evan caught him as he tried to shift himself up and kissed him quite tenderly. I don't mind. I like having you for my blanket.

Jack felt a bit of heat in his cheeks and blinked in surprise. How long had it been since he'd last blushed? He honestly had no idea. He willed it to go away. "You should have told me."

He tilted his head back, looking at the ceiling. I couldn't risk it, couldn't risk you sending me away. This is…. He looked at him again. It's the first time I've ever truly felt like I belonged, Jack. When I was in the care system, two of the couples sent me back. They said I scared them. After that, I took to hiding things. They never treated me badly but… I was never like them and I knew it.

Jack deftly shifted them on the wide seat of the sofa so that Evan was on his chest. He hugged him almost fiercely. "It's okay. I'm not angry. And I'm not afraid."

Evan had to blink back tears. Thank you, Jack.

"No," he whispered. "Thank you."


Jack had found a new team member. Her name was Keri Anne Brubacher. She was on the short side, only five foot six. She had been in the military and done two years private security for a celebrity in the States. She was, Evan thought, easily classified as prickly. She had definite attitude. Alex was in a snit over it. He'd been down for days from being shot in the shoulder in the weeks before she'd been recruited, though; so he didn't have a lot of room to gripe. Despite all of his grumbling that he didn't need a partner, he had one. She amused the hell out of Jack with her lip. The little spark of attraction Jack had felt for her had, thankfully, just been one of his flash-in-the-pan notions and faded after a couple of good romps. Evan didn't hold it against him. The flirting thing had been so habitual for so long that he really didn't think about it until it was too late. He knew that he was the one who sang Jack to sleep at night. That was all that mattered.

Evan wasn't sure yet whether he liked Keri as a person or not yet. She could be downright rude and abrasive at times. But he had to admit, she was damned close to beating Jack on the firing range. She was a hell of a shot. He supposed if he could pick who would cover him in a fire fight it would be her or Jack or both. Gritty as she might be, she was good at her job and no-nonsense. On a great day, he'd have Gwen watching his back, too. The only reason he didn't immediately add her to the wish list was the fact that she had a family.

Keri was in the back of the SUV, arms over her chest as Chris watched a laptop beside her. Evan could feel the impatience looming around her. Her fingers drummed on her forearm. Chris glanced sideways at her and then back to the screen.

"Uh, left ahead, Jack." They were moving in on a con-man who had been trading in illegal technology. They'd tagged a morsel too tasty for him to pass by. "That building there, third floor." Chris leaned toward the window to look up.

"Okay. This should be relatively…."

Evan whipped out a hand and pressed two fingers to his lips.

"No. Not letting you curse this one, Jack. I'd love to have dinner before 2 AM."

Chris snickered and Jack gave Evan a look. "Anyway. Let's round him up. We have more than enough evidence to extradite him."

Apparently not even finishing the sentence was enough to activate what seemed to be Jack's curse lately. Any time he thought something would go easily, it absolutely didn't. Con-man Jasaphon Talbus Phoss saw them coming and went out a window. Jack and Evan had no choice but to give chase and Keri joined in from her spot in the alleyway. As they rounded the corner, they were unaware that someone else was in the middle of a chase in the area as well. Keri had managed to pull ahead, incredibly fast for someone with such short legs. She let out a yelp as she managed to dodge the first man who burst around the corner. She wasn't so lucky with the second.

"Ow! Sorry about that!" He called as their shoulders struck and she was almost knocked from her feet. She hardly missed a beat despite the impact. Evan saw him grin as his eyes flicked to Jack on the way past. "Jack! Fancy meeting you here! Hang on a moment!" He also noted a rather stunned look on Jack's face as the man barreled past.

He sank down into a low firing stance, his free hand flung back for balance as he slid on the wet pavement. He hadn't even stopped moving when the weapon in his other hand let out a low "WHOOMPH!" A rippling ring issued from the weapon and sped at his target's back, sending the man sprawling into a heap that bounced twice and then halted. The lanky gunman hopped upright and strode quickly to the man, looking rather peeved. One heavy soled boot swung out and struck him in the ass.

"Never run from a cephalopod, idiot. It just makes us angry." He muttered as he reached under the long trench coat he wore and slapped a pair of electronic cuffs roughly onto the target's wrists. He shoved up his sleeve and hit a few buttons on the controller. The man shimmered and vanished. He spun about. "Need a hand, Jack?"

"How many?"

"You know, that gets funnier every time I hear it. Best hurry. Your girl's having a time of it by the sound." He took off like a shot toward the sound of Keri shouting and something else roaring.

Evan looked at Jack in confusion, but he knew they needed to move. They followed the other man. They found him on the back of a hairy, bulbous-faced creature which had Keri by the throat. He covered the thing's buggy eyes with his hands.

"Peek-a-boo! I see you!" He hooted, apparently enjoying himself. "Come on, now. Let go of the pretty lady and I won't have to make you eat your own favorite bits."

The thing did let go, focusing itself on bucking off its passenger. Keri fell to the pavement, coughing and gasping for a moment. Then, face twisted in anger, she got to her feet and kicked out at the thing. It gave a startled bellow as her foot connected with its knee, knocking it off balance.

"Oh! Going down," laughed his rider. "First floor! Ladies' knickers, silk flowers and choccies!" He pushed up, putting his weight behind its head, driving it into the concrete hard enough to put it out cold. He rolled over it to his feet and executed a jaunty bow. "Aw, I like her, Jack. Little spitfire you have there."

Evan and Keri were both staring at the man. Jack just shook his head, let out a weird string of clicks, burbles and syllables neither of them could quite catch and then moved forward to hug him enthusiastically. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Working. Like you."

"Captain?" Keri was blinking in confusion.

"Oh, uh…." The man pulled back from Jack, bowed again and let out the same weird string of sounds Jack had emitted. "That's my name, though Jack here's the only one I know with a hominoid vocal structure who has ever managed to pronounce it worth a damn. Most just call me Dani for short."

Dani? Evan blinked. He knew that name from dreams, but this wasn't the face he remembered with it. The look on Jack's face said he would explain in more detail later. If this was the same Dani, he'd once been a Time Agent and was a former lover of Jack's, too. That Dani had been pale-skinned with a bluish tinge. His hair had been long and greenish and his eyes had been silver. It might be a hologram or something, but this man was tanned bronze with sky blue eyes, extremely white teeth and brown hair that brushed the collar of his black coat. Even so, that impish expression and odd demeanor… it had to be the same man. The accent was weird and clipped as it had been in the dreams, too.

"So, it's true then? You're recruiting new Torchwood operatives?" He glanced over Keri and Evan and Chris, who had joined them once he realized something weird was going on with the newcomer. He had a weapon out, but pointed down.

"When I can find good ones."

"Consider me good enough?"

"Depends on who you're affiliated with, Dani."

"Ah, I'm a freelancer now, Jack." He fiddled with a thigh pocket under his coat and pulled out a shield-like object encased in what looked like plastic. "Licensed bounty hunter nice and legal. But definitely looking for more steady pay. A few good tags will float me a while, but competition's getting tough out there and I'm tired of scraping for my supper ever other turn."

"I take it you're here on a visa?"

"Yeah. Good for a week." He shifted oddly, gazing past Jack to where Evan stood. "That one has a lot of your scent on him, Jack. New boyfriend?"

Evan stepped forward, smiling and unthreatened. "Yes."

"He's a handsome thing."

Jack blushed. "Yeah. Uh, do you have permit to bring the ship down?" Dani nodded. He tossed him something from a pocket. "Follow the beacon and use that to open the bay."

"I'll see you there once I get my package on his way. And you, too, pretty lady." He winked at Keri before he dematerialized with a humming shimmer.


They made it back to The Hub well before Dani got back to them. Jack was in his office. Chris was at his desk, shaking his head. "That guy… he's weird as hell."

"That's one word for it." Keri smirked.

Evan rubbed his chin. "If his takedown techniques are any indication, he's got some interesting moves. You didn't see that half down sliding thing he did. I mean, he's fast, accurate… and that was when he didn't seem to be taking anything very seriously. I really don't want to know what he'd be like pissed off."

"Scary, sir. Scare-e. That's what." Dani's voice made them all jump.

He snuck up on me…. Evan's brows knit together a little. "I bet."

The lean man strode closer, head cocked a bit to one side. It reminded Evan a little of a raptor studying prey. "I can definitely see what Jack likes about you now that I see you in better light. Smart eyes, smart body, too." He grinned, chuckling as Evan blushed. "And oh-so cute when fired up." He saw Keri leaning against the rail with a smirk on her face. "Ah, and you're a very pretty lady, aren't you?"

Evan noted that there was just a little bit of fluster under her nonchalant attitude. "Yeah, whatever."

Jack stepped out onto the deck before his office. "Dani, could you not sexually harass the entire staff your first time in The Hub?"

"What? I've missed a few." He flashed his very white teeth in an exceedingly cheesy grin.

"Get up here so we can start your processing if you're serious about wanting a job."

"Yeah, yeah, the boring bits." He made a face as he shrugged out of his coat and hung it over his arm. "See you after the torture, ducks."

Only Evan seemed aware that Keri's eyes were on Dani's butt as he went up. Once he was closed in the office with Jack, Chris leaned back in his chair looking disturbed and unimpressed. "He's like… a greasy used car salesman or something. He creeps me out."

Keri shrugged. "He kept me from getting my neck snapped. I didn't expect the bastard to suddenly grow two feet taller, sprout fur and tusks and try to throttle me."

Evan sighed. "You'd better get used to that. Most of the stuff we deal with isn't what it seems."

"I know. It won't happen again." She said it tartly. "I want coffee." She pushed off the rail and went into the break room.

Some people might have fretted about their lover being closed into an office with a former lover. Evan didn't. He knew they might sit up there a while recounting old stories while Jack took care of the bureaucracy involved in allowing an alien to work in concert with them. It did take some hoop jumping despite the fact that an alien had saved Earth more times than anyone cared to count. He headed down to the lab level to help Jules catalog the requisite samples on the latest inmate.

She looked up from her equipment as he came in. "Who was that skulking around down here?"

"His name's Dani. Jack knows him. It sounds like he might be joining us." He leaned on the counter. "He did well enough helping us bring down Mr. Warthog."

She made a sour face. "His name is…."

"Jasaphon Talbus Phoss." He at least looked a little sheepish when they said it together. "Sorry."

She handed him a couple of labels. "Mark his slides for me, would you?"

"Sure."

"Chris said Jack was hugging this guy…." She looked askance at him. "Doesn't that bother you?"

He looked amused. "No. I was well aware Jack had a history of lovers longer than I am tall when we got together. He won't stray, not when we've been together this long."

In the office, Dani had rudely plopped his feet on Jack's desk and studied him as he started processing requests through. "So, serious with this one, hmm?"

"Yes." He glanced at him. "How could you tell?"

"You blushed. You never blush, Jack, not unless you're so smitten you're tripping over your own tongue like you were when you were chasing that one operator skirt. What was her name?" He tapped his chin thoughtfully a moment. "Yeah, yeah. Lolly Thanner. That's the one. Third shift on the control deck. Nice perky…." He pantomimed juggling large breasts.

"Yeah, I remember." Jack laughed. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't make me start thinking about it or Evan will think we're doing things we shouldn't be up here."

"Oh? Do tell!"

"He's sensitive to the pheromones." He shrugged.

"Ooooh! So you've got the poor boy by his short hairs quite literally!" He cackled.

Jack pitched a pad of sticky notes at him that bounced off of his right brow. "It's not like that."

Dani raised both brows. "Oh oh oh…. You are serious about this one, aren't you?"

Jack sighed and leaned back while some information transferred. "Yes."

Dani's head cocked to one side curiously. "Had some bad luck, have you, Jack?"

Jack took a deep breath. "It's not something I want to talk about, Dani."

Dani let out a soft chuffing sound. "Ah, well, I suppose I was expecting too much to think I'd just drop right back into being your confidant, hmm?"

"You're still a friend. But, yeah. Evan has that role now."

Dani mirrored his body language rather rakishly. "Well then, is it bad form to ask about your little spitfire?"

Jack snorted. "You're never going to change, are you?"

"Nah. Change is overrated. Besides, if 50 years in cold storage doesn't change me, what will, eh?" He cackled again.

Jack's console chirped an affirmative. "Okay. We've got you marked as here on a trial period. We can finalize within 90 days to make it permanent."

"Excellent. Mind if I slum it in my ship until I find a place? Oh, and I'll want…."

Jack help up a hand. "I know, you need your two days a month recuperation space. I remember. I'll have it done for you."

He beamed. "Excellent, Captain! Most excellent, indeed!" He stuck his hand out as he stood and they shook. "Now, I'm famished! Any good sushi places nearby?"

"You'd have to ask Evan on that one. Or Jules. They're the only two who'll touch the stuff."

"Shame that. I was hoping your little spitfire might join me." He winked as he turned to go.

"Dani, you might not want to keep calling her that. She might decide you're annoying enough to separate you from your most favorite bits." Jack chuckled.

"Well, you know me, Jack. I've always liked to live a bit on the edge. Ta. Give your sweetie a fat kissie-poo for me, eh?" He waggled his eyebrows as he stepped out.

Jack rested his elbows on his desk and put his face in his hands with a groan. What was I thinking?


That night, when Evan and Jack finally got to his loft, they were fairly worn out and decided to just reheat some leftovers. They curled up on the sofa with their food and a couple of beers.

"So, that's Dani from when you were an Agent, right? But he doesn't look the same."

"Yeah. He's a metamorph. He changes his look every few years and keeps it humanoid so he doesn't freak people out so much."

"He said 'cephalopod', so… a squid-like base form? When you two were together did you… you know… have a little tentacle sex?" Jack grinned as he popped a piece of pot roast into his mouth. "No…." His nose wrinkled a little. "Really?" He started laughing.

"Hey, don't knock a little tentacle sex until you've had a little tentacle sex." He ate another bite. "You know, if you want, I could always share that memory with you. It was definitely…," he shivered a little, "… interesting."

"You are so bad…." He reached over and snagged an extra bit of carrot from Jack's bowl.

"Me? You're the one pilfering my carrot."

Evan laughed again. "You know, it occurs to me that half of what we say when we're off duty that isn't sex talk can be made into sex talk entirely too easily."

"Well, we do have a lot of sex…."

Evan leaned against him. "Not that I'm complaining." He took a swig of beer. "So I'm guessing he's bisexual?"

"More like 'try' sexual." Jack snickered. "The only thing more impressive than his perpetrator tag log is the number of notches on the bedpost."

"He was flirting with Keri. We should tell her…."

"Ah, no. Not our place. Strictly speaking, it's up to him who he shows his true form to and when. My only responsibility is to make sure he stays within our operational strictures on the job. It's not like she'll get pregnant with little squidies or anything. Generally speaking, species that are that different won't interbreed outside of some sort of Frankenstein experiment. If he was a more anthropoid being, I'd be more worried about it." He had finished his food and set the bowl aside. "Right now, the only responsibility I'm worried about is making sure you eat, get a pounce and a bath and get to bed." He kissed him.

Evan covered a huge yawn. "Yeah. Sleep sounds like a winner to me."


Back at The Hub, Dani went through the process of prepping his ship for mothballing. He wouldn't be allowed to use it as a mode of transport while he was a long term resident. Until Jack had the chance to set a tank up in the low levels for him, he'd have to use the small one on the ship. It was cramped, but it still was better than being unable to go back to rootform for the long term. He was due, actually. He had to spend a minimum of two back to back days fully in rootform every thirty days or so or risk cellular degeneration. Before he could do that, though, he needed to go present his immunization records to Dr. Latimer. He suspected there were a few he needed updated if he wanted to stay healthy on the old mud ball. He finished up the required shut-downs, got his records chip and headed out, locking the hatchway.

Stephen looked up as he entered the medical bay. It was his turn on the overnight shift. "Ah, immunization records. I was just verifying which ones you'd need."

"Got to stay hale and healthy." He grinned as he handed him the chip and leaned with his elbows on the counter while he pulled up the records.

"Yes." He scanned through the information. "You're in luck. You only need three." He turned to gather up the vials he needed.

"Good. Not so hard to deal with, then." His fingers tapped on his thighs. He was getting a bit itchy in his skin. It was definitely time for his rest period.

"Sleeve up, please." Stephen tapped the air from the syringe.

Dani complied, wincing at the surge of rather thick cellular soup going into his flesh. "Gah! You'd think they'd figure out a way to make those not hurt so much!"

"Oh, don't be such a baby." Stephen chuckled as he reached for a bandage.

"No need." He flexed his arm. "I seal quickly."

Stephen studied him for a moment. "Would you… be willing to let me study you?"

He made a face. "Uh, no. Sorry."

"Worth a shot. I've just got very little data on your species."

"I know. We like it that way." He winked. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go get some more grub in my gut. Have a good watch, doc."


Keri tilted her head up and scowled at the bruise around her throat in the mirror's reflection. Stephen had given her something for the pain. There was no permanent damage, but it was damned ugly. She blew out a huff of breath and got down some witch hazel from the cabinet. She soaked some gauze pads in it and used rolled gauze to secure it over the worst of the bruising. She could at least make it fade a little faster if nothing else. She found herself thinking about sky blue eyes and shook her head ruefully.

What the hell? He's not that hot… is he? Well, he does have a really nice ass. Who am I kidding, though? If I was a gambler and my luck at the table matched my luck with men, I'd be so broke I couldn't afford to pay attention.

She slid into bed, mind going right back to Dani's sudden appearance and rescue of her. It was ridiculous, really. Knight in shining armor? Right. She snickered and flopped onto her belly. I'm so not going there.

But she couldn't help it. Her brain had entirely latched onto the dashing, jaunty man who had come to her rescue. And, having not had a tumble in a while, the dreams she had started sliding right into pornographic… interesting but pornographic.