A/N: For research purposes (working on another story where Tanwen is younger) if Dad becomes Daddy, and Mum becomes Mummy… what does Tad become? Does it just stay as Tad or does it become Taddy? If anyone can help that would be brilliant.

Also you will be happy to hear that a plot bunny whacked me over the head with a frying pan today, so I have no more problems with inspiration Yay! The next chapter should be up pretty quickly after this one.

Another also, thanx so much for all the lovely reviews!


"Oh God" murmured Ioan quietly. He wasn't an idiot. He knew that his chances of surviving the night had been significantly reduced now that Archie was out cold. He had been scared before. Now he was just plain terrified.

"What do we do now?" asked Gwen quietly.

"Ioan, have you done any paramedical training?" asked Ianto.

"Well, yeah a bit… I mean basic first aid and-"

"Good, Ioan you stay with Archie and try and revive him," said Jack.

"But-"

Jack cut Ioan off, "Gwen stay with him, he's a civilian, try and help him. We'll keep searching"

Ioan's mouth dropped as Jack Ianto and Tanwen ran off down the hallway towards a foyer. Before she left Tan gave him a quick thumbs up and grinned.

How can she be grinning? he wondered.

"Gwen, I don't know how to do this"

Gwen spoke calmly but firmly, "Ioan Archie is a vaguely humanoid type alien. His anatomy is probably very similar to humans. I'll be as much help as I can but I'm not very good at first aid"

"We'll help too" said a voice in his ear. Ioan jumped in surprise. He had forgotten Dayton and Roan could still contact them. "I'm trying to reach Cassie and Roan's already searching the computer databases for the Wolvenrath"

"Thanks," mumbled Ioan. He looked at Archie. "If we get him into the recovery position… that might… I don't know"

"The recovery position" repeated Gwen, "That might work. Let's try that"

Ioan nodded and joined her as they tried to push Archie over.

TWTWTWTWTW

Tanwen ran alongside her parents. This was what she loved best. The thrill and excitement of the chase. It was dangerous but she wouldn't change it for anything. With her Tad on one side and her Dad on the other with his greatcoat flapping behind him like a superhero's cape she felt as though nothing could stop them.

Then they heard a scream.

They burst into the foyer to see a young girl backing away into a corner terrified of the monstrous shadowy creature edging closer towards her. She hadn't left the building for some reason and now the Noctalobon had found her. Panic replaced the confidence Tanwen had been experiencing a mere moment ago. Jack ran towards her first followed by both Ianto and Tanwen, but they didn't get far.

Before she could do anything Tanwen felt her limbs freezing again. Paralysed by fear the three figures watched in horror as the shadows enveloped the young girl. The ghostly form of the Noctalobon surrounded her and they could hear her muffled scream. The shadows darkened even further and the creature swelled.

TWTWTWTWTW

Jack felt helpless as he watched the girl's energy being stripped from her. He couldn't move, but he had to try. With a roar rising from deep within his stomach he struggled against the forces keeping him still. He felt his fingers flex slightly and knew he could beat this. He could hear his own cry now. He pulled his arm slowly upwards, stretching it further and further when with a sudden crack it jerked forwards.

He collapsed on the floor and struggled to stand up. As he rose to his feet he watched the Noctalobon's ghostly whisps form into a vaguely face-like shape. Jack could just glimpse the girl's still body behind the shadows. The face seemed to glare at Jack with a raw burning hatred before beginning to advance on him.

TWTWTWTWTW

Ianto never normally worried about Jack's safety. Jack almost viewed death as a mere inconvenience and Ianto knew he'd always be back to normal in a few minutes.

But knowing the devastating effect the Noctalobon had on its victims and the terrifying dread of wondering if Jack could recover from an attack only increased Ianto's fear, making it even harder for him to move. He was forced to watch as the shadowy figure approached his partner, creeping closer and closer, and then a more terrifying realisation occurred to him.

If Jack was attacked who would protect Tanwen?

He struggled to break free of whatever was keeping him paralysed, desperate to try and save Jack and his daughter.

TWTWTWTWTW

"Come on Archie," Ioan attempted to shake the wolf's shoulders, but they were too heavy. He had long ago abandoned trying to move him into the recovery position.

Gwen rushed up to him and threw a couple of bottles of water to him.

"That's all I could find. There was a vending machine along there and I took everything I could"

"Thanks"

Ioan unscrewed the bottle cap and tipped the freezing liquid onto Archie. Nothing happened.

"Can you go try and get some more Gwen. There must be a store around here somewhere selling water," she nodded and ran off again. He hesitatingly tapped the comms device in his ear, "Erm… any luck Dayton?"

"No. We're trying everything we can but Wolvenrath isn't represented in any of the databases. Roan's searching through the Archives downstairs. We're just hoping Tad doesn't get too mad. I can't reach Cassie either. Sorry Ioan. You're just gonna have to keep trying"

"Shit"

TWTWTWTWTW

Jack glanced around frantically as he searched for something to stop the Noctalobon. He fired bullets uselessly into the shadowy mass and could hear the dull thunk as they impacted pointlessly on the far wall.

There was a loud cracking noise which made him turn around. Ianto had broken the Noctalobon's hold and had collapsed on the floor. Struggling to watch the creature before him and check on Ianto Jack could barely make out that Ianto was breathing. He wasn't moving but he was probably just unconscious.

For a second the fact that he wasn't worried by his partner being 'just unconscious' struck him as rather funny. And he could have sworn he saw the Noctalobon shudder.

He frowned and then the realisation hit.

"Fear energy you idiot!" he yelled at himself. Ignoring the Noctalobon he ran towards Tanwen. He knew she could tell exactly what was going on. He yelled, "Don't be scared Tan. It thrives on the fear, if we aren't scared it can't hurt us"

He was trying desperately not to let his own fear show in his voice. Not a fear for himself. A fear for her safety.

It wasn't enough.

TWTWTWTWTW

Gwen had managed to find a trolley full of bottled water. Both she and Ioan were now frantically unscrewing the caps and dumping the contents on Archie, just hoping it'd have an effect.

It wasn't.

He wanted to cry. Who knew what was happening to Tanwen just now. And her only real chance of safety was lying unconscious in front of him. And there was nothing he could do.

Absolutely nothing.

In frustration he thumped his fist off Archie's huge furry chest before he was overcome by sobs.

"Ow…"

He looked up at the gruff voice, hoping he didn't imagine it.

"Who hit me?" groaned Archie.

"Haha!" Ioan whooped, "Archie I hit you, sorry, but we need your help. The others"

Archie sat up quickly, "Where are they?"

"They went after the thingy"

Archie groaned again, "Stupid humans!" he struggled to stand up but quickly recovered. He then seemed to notice he was soaking wet and shook himself off like a dog.

Gwen squealed, "Archie!"

"Sorry" he yelled as he ran off down the hallway while checking his wriststrap.

"Don't bump your head!" Ioan yelled back. He stood up from the puddle he had been kneeling in and chased after Archie.

Gwen sighed at the madness then followed.

TWTWTWTWTW

I can't be scared. I can't be scared.

She repeated the mantra over and over in her head as she watched her Dad rushing towards her, but she saw the Noctalobon getting closer to him. And she couldn't warn him.

She was forced to watch in terror as Jack froze on the spot, a grimace of pain set firmly upon his face.

If Dad's scared… what chance do I have?

Jack collapsed on the ground and she could feel tears that couldn't fall begin to form. She felt cold. Her stomach felt terrible and heavy. The feeling only intensified when the creature turned away from her Dad, clearly bored of him and wanting fresh prey.

Oh God. Is this it?

And then a bright light assaulted her eyes before the darkness took over.

TWTWTWTWTW

Ioan had caught up with Archie, which he was rather proud of, and they both skidded into the large foyer. Ioan gasped and felt the familiar bubble of fear that had been plaguing him for the whole night rise inside him again.

A girl's body lay still in the distance, Ianto was slumped on the floor, Tanwen was frozen to the spot. But it was Jack that had caught his attention. The ghost thing surrounded him. He could hear Jack screaming in pain and watched as he collapsed onto the floor.

That left only Tanwen.

The monster turned towards her and began to drift closer to her.

Ioan's eyes widened as he realised what would happen if it got to her. He watched as Archie rushed towards them, reaching into one of the many pouches on his belt.

And without even realising what he was doing he was running towards her. For once he wasn't scared. He knew he could save her. All he needed to do was be brave.

He reached out towards her moments before the monster reached her. It had shrunk slightly. Must be Archie, he thought, then dismissed it as he grabbed Tanwen around the waist.

A bright white light suddenly erupted from somewhere nearby and he couldn't see. He could only feel an intense jab of pain shoot along his left leg as he dragged her to the ground away from the thing towering above them.

They rolled along the floor a few times before finally stopping. Ioan groaned as he felt Tanwen lying on top of him. He tried to open his eyes but that hurt too much so he closed them again.

"Ioan?" asked Tanwen quietly.

He made a vague mumble, too shocked at his own actions to be able to talk coherently.

"You saved my life"

And suddenly through the pain and the darkness and the white hot pin-pricks of light when he opened his eyes he felt Tanwen press her lips to his. For the first time that night he felt some form of stability as he wrapped his arms around her. Her kiss was warm and passionate and he briefly allowed himself a moment to think that perhaps she liked him too.

But then she pulled away.

"Thanks Ioan"

As he sat up wincing at the pain in his leg he looked around, finally the bright light had faded.

Archie stood with his paws set firmly on his hips growling angrily at the ghost thing which had been trapped inside some sort of light-cage-thing. To the other side Tanwen was gently shaking Ianto who was groggily coming round. He sighed as he realised that his brief moment of bliss had been shattered and turned his attentions instead to the one remaining figure.

Jack lay in the middle. Ioan stumbled over to him grimacing at the pain. Jack looked dead. He placed his fingers against the man's neck. No pulse.

Part of him desperately wanted to believe Tanwen, but most of him still struggled with the concept of Jack being immortal.

Which is why he yelped in horror when Jack suddenly gasped loudly and grabbed his arm.

"Bloody hell!"

Tanwen and Ianto looked over at his yell. They both grinned and Tanwen mouthed 'Told you' to him.


A/N: Again any help on the Tad issue is very much appreciated, and of course reviews give everyone warm fuzzies!