Author's Notes: I'll get to the information about this chapter in just a minute. Right now, I have some very good, very important news to share (yes, more important than finding out that John Barrowman, Burn Gorman and Gareth David Lloyd will be at DragonCon this year … sorry, boys, I do love you, but this is far more important). After thirty-nine months, several thousand resumes and applications, and well over a hundred job interviews (probably more, but I kinda lost track), I now have a full-time permanent job with benefits. Back in May, I interviewed for a position in the Registrar's office at the college where I've been working since February. On Wednesday, I received a phone call from HR offering me the position. Naturally, I said yes. Also naturally, I began crying as soon as I hung up. I start on Monday, with new hire orientation. Okay! Back to the chapter. Remember back when I said that the Nevada Contingent might show up? Well, true to form, Suzie insisted. She pointed out that while the Avengers can't yet know that Phil Coulson is alive, his family is another matter. And who is sleeping with his cousin Liam (when she isn't sleeping with the Master)? Why, that would be Suzie herself! So, they'll be making appearances in this story, starting with this chapter. And that's the perfect lead-in for the summary. In this chapter, Jack and Steve get acquainted, while Jack muses on what he's learned so far; the Nevada contingent learn about the new case; and the rest of Torchwood Oklahoma mobilizes to fight back.

Chapter Two

The Phone Tree

Unknown Location

June 2012 (hours after Jack's capture)

On a scale of one to twenty of the dumbest things he'd done, this counted at least as a fifteen. Maybe even a seventeen, but really, he was the only person who could pull this off. Not that this knowledge eased his aching body. Jack allowed his head to drop against the side of the trailer, closing his eyes. Admittedly, the beating was bad enough, but when they dropped that hood over his head? He was torn between wanting to laugh (did they really think that would inhibit his sense of direction? Didn't they know … never mind. Best not to look a gift hood in the mouth) and being concerned for whoever was monitoring him by way of the lenses. Sometimes, whatever your imagination came up with was far worse than the reality.

About an hour into the ride, the hood was removed from his head, and Jack blinked a few times to let his vision readjust to the slightly more intense light. But he really couldn't say that he was surprised when he found Captain Steve Rogers peering at him. He'd caught quite a few of the young soldier's USO acts prior to his now-legendary rescue of his best friend, Sergeant James 'Bucky' Buchanan Barnes, and the rest of the unit that became his Howling Commandos. He was always an attractive kid (even in the pre-serum pictures Jack had seen), but now, there was an added layer of appeal. Jack hadn't quite put his finger on it … maybe it was the sadness in his bright blue eyes, thanks to the loss of his entire world, the battles he fought both in the past and the present, but Steve Rogers was even more attractive now than he was in the forties. Of course, it could have also been the hip-hugging jeans he was wearing, but Jack didn't think so.

The two men exchanged their stories (after they were both satisfied that the only people who were listening were the ones who already knew about their plans), and Jack was not at all surprised to learn that the younger captain was investigating the disappearance of the veterans in this part of the country. He'd connected with his remaining Commandos, and it was they who told him about the disappearances in question. Steve, who was traveling across country to further acclimate to his new reality, couldn't let that slide. He sent a message to Colonel Fury before setting a trap for their captors … one that they ever so obligingly fell into. As Steve said a bit indignantly, "Don't they recognize a trap when they see one?" Jack could only agree, though he wasn't about to complain … however, his aching body had other ideas.

Steve murmured into the silence, looking around the trailer where they'd been bouncing along for the last few hours, "I can't be absolutely positive, but I think it's been two hours since they picked you up. They're taking us out of state, I think." Jack bobbed his head. That was the most likely scenario, give the information they'd found so far. He knew Carlyon and the others well enough to know that they were already on their way, following the breadcrumbs Jack left them. Steve asked softly, "What did you mean when you said that your unit would come for you? You didn't mention any specific unit, but you are part of something larger."

Jack smiled, because he'd actually been expecting that question earlier, answering, "Yes, I am. I'm limited in what I can tell you … not because I don't trust you, but because in this case, it's safer for you not to know right now." Steve raised an eyebrow questioningly: right now? Jack smirked to himself. He figured that he would pick up on that, and the immortal continued, "I'm the field team leader for an agency that deals with alien threats: if they're benign, we either get them home or help them settle here; if they're not, we try to drive them off or neutralize them. If we can't neutralize, drive them away or contain them, well …" He let his sentence trail off, wincing at a twinge in his lower back. Steve nodded thoughtfully.

"Just out of curiosity, since you do deal with aliens … why didn't you come when the Chitauri attacked?" the young man asked and Jack shifted to get a little more comfortable. There was truly no censure in his voice, merely curiosity … as well as concern when Steve added, "Will you need any help when we get where we're going?" Jack shook his head, although he couldn't hold back a wince as he finally settled into a more comfortable position, with his legs stretched out in front of him. Steve pressed, "Are you sure? I'm a helluva lot stronger than I look. I don't have to carry you, but I can support you." Jack smiled at the boy (never mind that he was technically ninety-odd years old, he was still a boy to Jack) and shook his head.

"I'll be fine … I'm always fine. And … we would have come if we'd known about it. You had it under control, but against an enemy like that? Help is never unwelcome," Jack answered and Steve nodded emphatically. The truck hit a particularly deep pothole, sending fierce pain rippling through Jack's body, and he swore under his breath. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply until the pain lessened. When he opened his eyes, Jack found Steve watching him with undisguised concern, and Jack forced a smile, adding, "Remind me to thank our hosts properly when we leave for all their hospitality."

Steve grinned at that, some of the concern easing, and Jack went on, "Okay, so you were telling me about what you've noticed so far. How many men jumped you? There were five or six men who attacked me." Steve nodded, and began outlining what happened when he was taken. They discussed it in generalities earlier … but as Steve knew just as well as Jack did, the more information they had, the better off they … and their respective units … would be. As Jack listened and plotted, he wondered if their captors had any idea what they just unleashed. He hoped not. He really, really hoped not.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTW

Tregarth Homestead, Oklahoma

Same day

"Okay, Grandfather, you wanted the most recent update: Update: everything's loaded up. Mama Sophia just got off the phone with the sheriff, and she's contacting the state police so we don't get stopped. Esther has things set up in the main RV for the tracking, and Dr. Harper has Mom helping him in the main MMU. Aunt Priscilla is verifying our supplies, and she shanghaied CIA into helping her. You should have seen his face … he was not happy. He didn't argue with her, though. Uhm …. Oh, Natalie is on board the main RV with Esther, getting Ailsa settled. Yes, Aili knows the rules. Never thought we'd need rules for a five year old on an op, or even that we'd have a five year old on an op, but up until last year, I never heard of someone who didn't stay dead," Lucas said, reading off a check-list attached to a clipboard. And unless Carlyon missed his guess (which he didn't think he did), it was the same clipboard that Natalie used when inventorying the items in the bunkhouse. The boy paused and continued, "According to Adriane, Jack and Captain Rogers are both conscious and discussing the situation. Jack hasn't told Captain Rogers about the lens, so he doesn't know that we're hearing and seeing everything that Jack is. I imagine that Jack's holding that in reserve." As they walked to the front door, Carlyon was glancing around, verifying that the house was empty except for Adriane (who would be monitoring Jack from her laptop in the main house) and Phil Coulson, who was still confined to bed. Carlyon listened intently to his younger grandson's report, trying to remember to slow his stride to accommodate Lucas' somewhat shorter legs.

"Adriane knows to send Esther an email once an hour on Jack's condition?" Carlyon asked and his grandson bobbed his head as they exited from the house. That was something that Octavia and Owen both insisted upon, and after that hood was thrown over Jack's head just prior to the beat-down, Carlyon was beyond grateful for that insistence. While the lens would allow them to see things through Jack's eyes, Owen implanted a subcutaneous tracker that would not only tell them where Jack was, but what his condition was by monitoring his heart rate and respiration.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Agent Coulson ends up helping her," Lucas admitted. Carlyon barely bit back a snort, because Adriane was capable of doing just that. Lucas paused before adding, "I hate to say this, but maybe it's just as well that she's staying here. Adriane, I mean. I think she's been getting on Esther's nerves." Carlyon merely arched his brows at the boy. Whatever was his first clue? Lucas gave a small shrug, saying, "Besides, things have been a little weird between Natalie and Esther ever since we found out that Esther was one of us. Neither of them are shutting out the other … it's kinda weird, almost like they aren't sure how to act toward each other. Like, Natalie will go to say something, and then stop herself."

"Learning that Esther is your cousin has required an adjustment for everyone, Lucas, including your aunt. They just need time to realize that nothing has really changed. If they can do that while we're finding those missing veterans, that's fine … just as long as the 'strangeness' between them doesn't put the mission or those men into greater danger," Carlyon replied. That was meant as much for him as it was for his grandchildren. While they already loved Esther, it was still something of an adjustment as she went from 'friend and colleague' to 'family member and colleague.' It actually did make a difference, Carlyon came to realize. He found that he was far more reluctant to send Esther into the field, now that he knew she was his granddaughter. Priscilla was having similar difficulty.

Looking back now, he realized that Natalie went through something similar when she learned that she was his daughter, rather than his granddaughter … figuring how where she fit in with her new reality. Maybe that was what was causing the awkwardness? Natalie was remembering her own experiences, and hesitated to reach out to her newly-discovered niece, because she knew that everyone reacted differently? That was entirely possible, and Carlyon resolved to have a quick conversation with his youngest daughter as soon as possible. At least Esther still had Jack. That was one of the few things that hadn't changed, with the revelation of her heritage.

"You might want to say something to CIA as well," Lucas offered. Carlyon arched his brows at his grandson, forcing the boy to explain, "I don't know what he said, or even if he said anything at all, but I heard Esther tearing into him." Carlyon winced. That could go either way. Rex was often abrasive, but when Esther put her emotions behind a wall (as she was doing when she listened to Jack's abduction), there would be spillover sooner or later. Carlyon's bet was on sooner, because Esther wasn't accustomed to putting her feelings aside. He feared, too, that Esther's new insistence on putting her emotions on hold (as she did when Jack was captured) arose out of a desire to prove herself … prove that she could be professional even when someone dear to her was in danger. Thus far, Priscilla found it difficult to make her daughter understand that it wasn't necessary … Carlyon was starting to think that Sophia would need to talk to their granddaughter, before she ended up hurting herself or someone else.

However, all he said was, "I'll keep that in mind. For now, get to one of the coaches, whichever you want. I was thinking, however, that you should take the MMU that your brother is driving. That way, we'll have two medics in each coach, aside from the third MMU, but two is all we need at the moment." Lucas thought about that and nodded. He raced lightly to the coach where Jason was sitting. Carlyon saw Jason's smile as Lucas bounded up the stairs, saw his older grandson's lips move, and knew that they were trading insults, as they so often did, as brothers did. Carlyon smiled faintly. The house was empty, aside from Adriane and Agent Coulson.

Oh, and Sophia. His wife emerged from the storage room that became her office once they'd finished moving things into the new Hub, saying, "Okay, Pilar has come through like a champion, although she commented that her young deputy turned green when he learned of his part in this." Carlyon could believe that, but the boy would encounter far worse duties if he remained as a deputy. Even in a small town like Dupres, there would be gruesome sights … as he learned the hard way during the Gelth incursion. Sophia continued, smiling at him, "Any preference for me, with regards to the coaches?"

"At my side. Since Jack is in the field, I need you by my side," he answered honestly. None of them liked this situation, Carlyon himself included, but it was the best option of several bad possibilities. Sophia's face softened and she held her hand out to him. Carlyon took it, lightly brushing a kiss to her knuckles, before saying, "The main coach, if you please. I need to speak with both Adriane and Agent Coulson. And Sophia?" This was said when his wife nodded and started to pull away. She stopped mid-turn, and Carlyon elaborated, "You may need to talk to Esther. Even the boys are starting to worry about her."

Sophia's mouth rounded into an 'o,' but she said only, "I'll take care of it … take care of her. Don't worry. You focus on Jack, I'll focus on the rest of the team." And then she offered him a heart-stopping smile. When she turned away this time, he didn't stop her. Instead, he headed into the opposite direction. Most of his parting comments were for his middle granddaughter. He found her in the common room, biting the tip of her thumb as her eyes stayed glued to the computer screen. She looked up at the sounds of his footsteps.

While her face was neutral, her eyes were not … and, Carlyon noticed, his middle granddaughter was frightened. He was suddenly, painfully reminded of Adriane when she returned from Washington DC during Miracle Day, and how badly what she saw in the capital city traumatized her. Although this wasn't the first case for Torchwood Oklahoma, it was the first case where any of them were truly in danger, the first time lives were in her hands. Adriane was frightened. And right now, she didn't need the director … she needed her grandfather. With that in mind, he hooked his foot around one of the rolling chairs and sat down in front of her, taking her hands.

He didn't tell her that Jack would be fine. She knew that he would always come back. That wasn't the point. He didn't tell her anything, really. Instead, he sat in front of her and held her hands, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles. Adriane bit her lower lip, blinking back tears, and tightened her fingers around his own. She whispered hoarsely, "You'll look after Owen, won't you? He's really worried about Jack." Carlyon smiled a little, because he heard so many other things in that question, in that request.

"Owen will be fine. Jack will be fine. So will your sister," he promised gently, wincing a little when Adriane's head reared up. However, he maintained eye contact with her, saying, "And you'll be fine. I know, this is your first solo mission since Miracle Day. I also know that this is the first time we've had a case like this … and thus, the first time you've been responsible for the lives of others. But you accomplished what we asked you to do, under far more trying circumstances. And if Agent Coulson gets out of control, you have my permission to subdue him any way you see fit."

There was a ghost of a smile on Adriane's face as she asked softly, "Any way I see fit? Are you sure about that, Grandfather? Are you sure you want to trust me like that?" Carlyon thought briefly about amending his offer, but decided against it. Instead, he maintained eye contact, even as he nodded. There was a long silence as she processed this, before stating, "Speaking of Agent Coulson … you didn't tell him that he couldn't contact Colonel Fury or his family." Carlyon shook his head slowly, waiting for her to tell him what that meant, and Adriane continued, "You want him to call them … want Director Fury to know what's happened to Captain Rogers."

"I do. Of course I do, Adriane. This is bigger than what we originally realized. It's not too big for Torchwood, but this is still something that SHIELD needs to know. You see, sweet girl, Steven G. Rogers is far more than just a soldier, or even a super-soldier. He is an icon, he is Captain America. To you, that really means very little, but to your grandmother and her siblings, he meant a great deal. When he was dug out of the ice, that was even more true. I don't know Nick Fury that well, but I do know this. He will come for Captain Rogers. And when he does, hell will come with him. As to why I didn't tell Agent Coulson straight out to do that … well. I'm sure you can figure that out," Carlyon answered dryly. Adriane stifled a giggle, and Carlyon smiled at her, leaning forward to kiss her forehead.

Once more, Adriane's fingers tightened around his own, but when he pulled back this time, there was only determination in her eyes. Not a word was said … nothing needed to be said. Adriane would do what needed to be done. Carlyon gently caressed the side of her face, before executing a small bow and a neat about-face (there were some things you just never forgot). He strode from the house, to the small fleet that awaited him. Despite his brave words, though, he feared for Jack. His friend always came back … but his deaths were no less painful for all that.

TWTWTWTWTWTW

Phil Coulson didn't hear the conversation between Carlyon Tregarth and his granddaughter. Then again, he didn't need to. Phil was an agent of SHIELD, something that the Tregarth patriarch knew well, just as he knew that Phil made weekly reports to his director. The fact that Carlyon Tregarth didn't tell him not to make that report to Colonel Fury, didn't even ask for his phone, told the agent that Carlyon wanted SHIELD to know about Captain Rogers' current situation. However, in the interest of good manners, he did wait until the fleet of vehicles was gone, trailing after the idiots who'd taken two good men.

Once the fleet pulled out, Phil had his cell in his hand and speed-dialing his boss. It took him less than ninety seconds to inform Director Fury what was going on … in part because they spoke in code. Just in case. Directory Fury wasn't entirely pleased about sharing this with Torchwood, but he understood the need for it. That wouldn't prevent him from telling a few people off once the two captains were returned to them. Phil hoped he'd wait until he returned to work. He wanted to see that.

But his boss wasn't the only person who needed to know about the new Torchwood case (as Nick well knew himself). He waited several minutes, listening for Adriane's footsteps in the hall, and when he didn't hear them, he speed-dialed the office his cousin kept in their grandfather's old home. According to what he heard from both his cousin and the Tregarths, Liam would be keeping that office even once the change-over was complete. Liam agreed to stay on as lawyer, even though their grandfather was dead. More than that, he closed his office in town and moved everything to his office on the grounds. That was Natalie's suggestion, he learned.

His cousin answered on the third ring, and judging from the sounds he was making, Phil interrupted something … strenuous. Phil rolled his eyes. It seemed that his cousin had gotten more in the last six months than he had in the previous six years. Not that Phil was jealous or anything. He had no reason to be jealous. Still, he told his youngest cousin, "Listen and repeat what I tell you. But only the last sentence or word. Understand?" Liam groaned out an 'understand,' and Phil rolled his eyes again. There was a part of him that wanted to blame Captain Harkness for Liam's newly-discovered sex drive, but after the last year, Phil's understanding of life and death was … no longer the same. To put it bluntly, he was afraid that either his grandfather or grandmother would swat him from beyond the grave.

"Honestly, Liam. Now listen. I've learned that along with fifty other veterans, Captain Rogers has gone missing. Yes, the same Captain Rogers who helped Zio Carlo escape during the Second World War. Yes, they found him. Yes, his plane did … Liam, stop interrupting me! And tell your partner that he or she might want to hear this. Yes, Liam, Natalie Tregarth wasn't the only one to walk in on you and Captain Harkness while you were doing the horizontal mambo. Why do I bring that up? Because Captain Harkness is also missing!" Honestly, if there was anyone in his family who was capable of reducing Phil to an annoyed teenager, it was Liam. Begrudgingly, he had to admit that it was a trait Liam's older sister Olivia shared.

Right. Liam still didn't know that his sister was alive and in the care of SHIELD. Of course Phil knew … he was the one who arranged for Olivia to be transferred to SHIELD. There was a brief silence, broken only by furious whispering as Liam relayed what he'd learned. After several moments, the younger Colasanto asked, "Jack's missing? What the hell happened?" In the background, Phil could hear a distinctly female voice asking, 'Jack?' That was interesting. Phil didn't recognize the voice, but it was definitely female … and it just as definitely belonged to someone who knew Captain Harkness. His cousin hushed his paramour, before saying, "Okay, Phil, you have my attention. And I keep finding more and more people who walked in on us while Jack and the Tregarth ladies were here." Phil smirked, because really, what did Liam think would happen when he wasn't particularly discreet?

Still, he replied, "We don't know. Well, we do know what happened, as he was being monitored at the time, but we don't know who is behind it. As I said, veterans were disappearing, and Captain Harkness went undercover to track down that information. He was at one of the bars where some of those veterans went missing, when he was assaulted by several men and abducted." There was a very un-Liam-like growl and Phil bit his tongue, to keep from teasing his cousin. There was a time and a place, especially after Liam hissed, 'I'll tell you when I know something, dammit!'

After a moment, Liam said more calmly, "Okay, so Jack is investigating this … how does Captain Rogers fit into this?" Just when Phil thought he could carry on a civilized conversation, the younger Colasanto gave a low groan, and the SHIELD agent actually face-palmed. Oh, for … and he thought dealing with Stark was a pain in the neck! It got worse when Liam whimpered (yes, actually whimpered), "Suzie, please, I can't focus when you do that!" Suzie, was it? Phil made a mental note to see what he could find out more about this Suzie. He had to look out for Liam, after all. Especially if this Suzie ended up being a security risk. There were several moments of ragged breathing, before Liam managed to say in a somewhat steady voice, "Okay, as I was saying, how does Captain Rogers fit into this, and when did they dig him up?"

For the second time in the last ten minutes, Phil face-palmed. Then again, Liam was never enthralled with the tales of Captain America … not the way Phil was. His foster mother thought herself above such stories. He pushed aside his old resentment of Janel Grady. She was long dead, and so was Aunt Deirdre. Instead, he told his cousin, "Captain Rogers learned of the missing veterans from one of his remaining Commandos, and started investigating. As to when he was brought home … that was earlier in the year, or didn't you see the footage of the Battle of New York?" There was a long, embarrassed silence, and Phil pinched the bridge of his nose. There weren't words for how grateful he was that Stark wasn't here to see this. He would have been taking entirely too much delight in Phil's discomfort.

His worst fears were realized when Liam said slowly, "Uhm … no?" Phil exhaled this time, and Liam said defensively, "Excuse me if I've been a bit busy! I just finished moving my office into the compound, and …" He was cut off in mid-sentence … for which Phil was somewhat grateful, because quite frankly, his cousin was starting to annoy him. His relief was short-lived, however, because for the second time in the conversation, he heard furious whispering in the background, which was a prelude to …

To a feminine voice saying, "I'm Suzie … you were saying something about Jack? Normally, I don't mind a domestic that much, but I know Jack, and he's someone who is important to me." So, she was female and British. And her name was Suzie. That would help him investigating her once he had the resources. As if hearing his thoughts, Suzie added in a playful voice, "Don't bother trying to find things out about me, Agent Coulson. I don't exist." Well. That was a challenge if ever he heard one, and Phil Coulson always had a hard time resisting a good challenge. However, that could wait. Right now, she was right … the case was far more important than his petty squabbling with his cousin. That didn't mean that he would simply give her what she wanted. Please. He was a handler for the Black Widow and Hawkeye!

"That remains to be seen, Suzie. And I'm not permitted to discuss the case with you. Of course, if you wish to … get that information out of my cousin, I can hardly stop you. A matter of national security, I'm sure you understand," Phil answered smoothly. There was a stunned silence, and Phil continued, "Now, if you would be so good, please return the phone to my cousin so I can finish giving him the information that you'll no doubt seduce out of him once this conversation is over?"

The next voice that came floating down the wire belonged to his cousin once more, and Liam said admiringly, "Dayum, Phil, I don't think I've ever seen Suzie speechless when it didn't involve sex!" Phil scowled at his phone. Put that in the 'entirely too much information' category, thank you very much! However, he put the phone back to his ear, just in time for Liam to say more seriously, "Okay, so Jack and Captain Rogers have been captured. I won't ask how you know these things, because I have a feeling if you did tell me, you'd have to kill me." Kill him? Oh, no. No, Phil had far better ways of dealing with such a situation … and no, it didn't involve Retcon, although he could certainly see the various uses of it.

"Not at all, cousin," Phil answered smoothly, "just remember I have other options open to me." He didn't elaborate on what those 'other options' might be. When it came to Liam, it was always best to leave things to his imagination. As Phil learned the hard way, Liam inherited his imagination from their grandfather (well, so did Phil … just in a different way). He was proven correct only a moment later when he heard Liam give a very audible gulp. Phil smiled to himself and proceeded to inform his cousin what he knew so far. And when he got off the phone, he would start investigating Suzie. Or maybe he would ask the director to do that. Director Fury owed him anyhow for bloodying his Captain America cards. True enough, the director would probably get Agent Hill to conduct the actual research, but it was the principle of the thing.

TBC

Additional notes: In case it isn't clear from Phil's thoughts, Director Fury does know about his plan to contact his family, and this plan has the director's unspoken support. More will be explained later, when it's explained why Director Fury agreed to Phil's request (yes, there is a particular reason).