Alright thanks to Kazz the 13th and her very convincing review;) I have decided to reconsider smut lol anyways thanks to all my fantastic readers and reviewers including Kateg123, Super Spazz Attack, Terriah, Starry Eyed Torchwood Lover, Kazz the 13th, Pandora of Ithilien, Rhosyn-x, shadowxwolf, Remote Control Princess, Mythstar Black Dragon and Itchigo. Here's the next part…

Chapter 10

Gwen stumbled into the Hub trying not to be too loud in case anyone might still be there. Unfortunately her attempt was ruined as she tripped over a box, yelled out and watched as a bunch of office supplies came tumbling out.

"Oopsy," she giggled like a little girl.

She then climbed the steps to her workstation and began pulling out drawers searching for…ah there they were. Car keys! She had walked to the pub feeling she needed the air and it wasn't too far and she realized after a few beers that she had left her keys at the Hub.

"And just what do you think you are doing," balled the all American voice of Captain Jack Harkness.

He had been awoken from his attempt at sleep by the sound of a yelp and the collapse of objects falling. At first his immediate thought was an intruder, but then he heard the giggling. Giggling that sounded utterly cute and drunk. He stood up, pulled on some pants and threw a shirt over him and climbed up through the hole in his office only to find Gwen rummaging through her workstation.

Gwen made a noise in the back of her throat trying to calm herself down. Just seeing his face reminded her of how angry she was at him and how hopelessly in love she was with him.

"I left my keys here," she said with an attempt to stop the uncontrollable giggling.

She put them in her jean pockets, grinned at him and then tried to slip past him to the Cog door.

"Exactly how much have you had to drink," he asked grabbing her arm.

She responded to it immediately, looking him straight in the eye and pushing him off. But he wasn't haven't any of it. He grabbed her arm again, harder then intentional, but he couldn't let her walk out of here like this.

"Piss off Jack," she yelled as she tried to yank her arm back.

"You're in no state to drive home."

"Then I'll take a cab."

"We both know you won't."

"You don't know what I'm going to do," she yelled, her words were a bit slurred.

"I know that you're not thinking straight."

"And I know you're just plain not straight, now let me go," she said finally relieving her arm.

"My sexuality has nothing to do with this. This is about you and your pissed state of mind," he yelled after her.

She then ran as fast as she could out of the door, tripping along the way. She tripped over another box, yelping from surprise and swearing under her breath. Whoever stacked these boxes was going to get such a slap in the morning for putting them in the most inconvenient places. Jack didn't have far to run as she was on the floor. He stood in front of her looking down at her form, his arms folded contemplating her.

She picked up her head, blowing her hair out of her face looking right at him with a drunken expression of hate. He snorted as he tried to stifle a chuckle.

"And just what the hell are you laughing at Harkness," she said lifting herself up with dislike.

Jack tried to help her, but she only pushed him away again mumbling something or other.

"You're welcome to stay here," he told her.

"No thanks, I'd rather take my chance with Janet and her most recent choice of lovers considering how many weevils we catch a day. Goodnight Jack. I'll see you in the morning if you decide to hang around long enough to actually be here in the morning," she gave him a sarcastic salute as she made for the door again.

"Gwen, you're not in the right state of mind, I understand, but even that doesn't explain why you're being so hostile."

Oh, hostile wasn't the word for it she thought, "I'll stop being so hostile as you put it after you bloody decide what you want because it seems you can't seem to make up your mind."

"You're angry about our conversation earlier."

"Well can you blame me?" she asked sobering a lot faster then she would've liked to, but if they were going to lay it all out on the table, now seemed like the perfect time, "What is it you want from me? I hate to break it to you Jack, but I don't exactly possess the power of reading minds. One minute we're friends, the next we're snogging, the next we're back to friends again and then you do something that is so incredibly cute and I'm…I'm just frustrated and confused and angry

and tired. God, I'm so tired," she held a hand to her head and almost fell forward as the consumption of alcohol rushed back to her.

Jack caught her just before she collapsed to the ground. He curled his arms firmly around her as she tried to stand up only to slump back against him.

"Do you have any idea the struggle I go through," she asked trying to make him understand how she felt. This exasperating, arrogant, cocky (and boy did she know it) man had stolen her heart.

He looked right at her pushing a stray piece of hair behind her hair, "Do you have any idea the one I go through?"

She leaned up, looking at him for a moment and then kissed him right then and there. It was sloppy and drunk, but he responded immediately, his tongue mixing with hers in the heat of the moment. She put her arms around his neck while his were stationed on her waist. He pulled her closer. It was only after a few minutes that he needed breath did he release her. It was only after he released her did she sag in his arms and fall asleep.

The alcohol had finally taken its toll. Jack smiled and calmed himself as he looked on the form that was unmistakably Gwen Cooper. Even slumped in his arms she looked adorable. He traced the outline of her face with his thumb looking at her for a few minutes and chuckled as she let out a silent snore.

He remembered the last time she had gotten this drunk. It was just after Rhys had died. He held back her hair as she vomited. Hopefully, tomorrow morning wouldn't be as bad. He'd have to talk to her about this habit she was picking up. One minute she was sleeping with Owen to deal with her problems, the next she was drinking. One minute he was her friend, the next he was snogging her and they were back to being friends again, he thought miserably of her words.

He sighed and picked her up in his arms carrying her to the sofa where he lay her down gently. He would have loved to place her in his bed, but had a feeling that wasn't the best of ideas. She was going to have one hell of a hangover, but he'd be there waiting, ready to have a long conversation about this when she was ready.

He had made up his mind. He knew exactly what he was going to do.

Gwen had awoken some time that afternoon, by the sound of an alarm.

"Rift activity. Something's come through. Not that big though," Tosh yelled out.

"We're on it," Jack called as he and Owen left through the Cog door.

"Morning sunshine," Ianto grinned as he placed a hangover remedy next to Gwen.

She went to sit up, but clutched her head in pain. She quickly grabbed the remedy and sipped it only to spit it out again.

"Ianto what the hell is this?" she asked coughing.

"Grandmother's hangover remedy. Works every time although you're the first to actually drink it," he grinned. She gave him a puzzled look and he sighed at her misunderstanding, "You're meant to inhale it through your nostrils."

"Oh," she looked down at the liquid as she breathed it in. As it happened her headache had already begun to clear.

As it happened so did the rest of her head as the rest of the memories had begun to unfold. She remembered going to the pub, getting too drunk to even walk straight, some really bad singing of Ray Charles "Hit The Road Jack", a man in a duck suit (she was still trying to figure that one out), a bar fight and then a trip to the Hub to find her car keys. After that it was still a bit blurry although she did remember getting into a fight with Jack. What else is new, she thought. She was still mad at him, but definitely a lot calmer.

"How are you feeling sleeping beauty," Tosh turned to Gwen.

Gwen groaned in response and Tosh only nodded before turning back to her computers. Gwen got a sniff of her pits and shook her head with distaste. She smelt of body odor, alcohol and the smelly remedy Ianto had given her. Shower, she thought, she was in desperate need of one. Ianto almost read her mind and handed her a towel.

"There are extra clothes stored in your locker I presume," said Ianto.

Gwen blushed at the way she stank and he only gave her a look that said it was alright. She silently thanked him and headed for the showers yellow towel in hand. She was still a bit dizzy having woke up in a drunken stupor, but shook her head trying to clear it as best as she could. Before she knew it she was flat on the ground again. She looked to see what she had tripped over and discovered it was a box full of office supplies. Sudden memories came flashing back.

"Alright who stacked the boxes here," anger evident in her tone, "They are dead when I get my hands on them."

She was completely sober this time, so there was no reason why she should still be tripping over them.

"Owen," Ianto answered quickly judging from the tone in her voice she was not kidding.

Gwen grunted and started for the shower again.

"Ianto, doesn't Owen get blamed enough? You know perfectly well that you stacked those boxes," Tosh said trying to defend Owen.

Ianto hushed her and proceeded to clean up the supplies again. He had made a solemn oath to himself after the encounter with John Hart, never ever get on Gwen's bad side. Of John Hart wasn't enough proof, Jack and Owen most definitely were. Speak of the devils he thought as they strolled through the Cog door carrying a small alien object.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Not so sure. Tosh, you'll have to run some scans on it. Meanwhile, you could've mentioned that this was located in the sewers Tosh," Jack called.

"Oops," she said in all innocence.

"Alright, let's get to work. Ianto, I'm going to jump in the shower to get rid of the scum of the scum of the universe. Tell Gwen to meet me in my office. I need to speak with her. Tosh, make sure that thing's not lethal. Owen put on some fresh coffee and what the hell is that smell. I know I smell, but I can't be that bad. Anyways, let's get to it" he called jogging down to where the showers were located.

Ianto went to speak, but Jack spoke quickly and before he knew it was halfway down to the showers. Tosh caught Ianto's eye with an expression that said it all. Owen looked at the two.

"Yeah, sorry I don't speak nervous glances," Owen spoke up.

"Gwen's in the shower," Ianto said staring out into space.

Owen folded his arms and said in all calmness, "Oh."

They stood there looking at the ground thinking this through. Owen made the first move while Tosh followed and Ianto pulled a bag of popcorn out of nowhere taking a seat in between Tosh and Owen eagerly watching the CCTV. Owen and Tosh fought for the remote while Ianto attempted a zoom. He slapped Owen's hand who pulled back and Tosh stuck her tongue at him and grinned happily at Ianto for taking her side.

Meanwhile, Gwen ran her hands through her hair trying to get the last of the stink out. She now smelled of apricot shampoo and soap. Thoughts were running through her mind. How was she going to confront Jack about all of this?

Jack took off his clothes carrying a towel on his arm when he heard the showers. He grumbled in frustration. Someone had either left the showers on, someone was taking a shower, or Owen was trying to flood the Hub again. And since the first two weren't true he went for the third. Apparently he wasn't only going to be having a long talk with just Gwen either.

Jack pulled back the curtain and Gwen turned around.

"Jack!"

"Oh shit. Sorry," he said and went to close the curtain, but couldn't bring himself to do it.

She grabbed her towel as fast as she could covering herself as the water still ran. Jack had only gotten a flash, but man, he had seen the promised land! Gwen's eyes went wide as Jack stood completely naked before her. They were both transfixed by each other until Gwen turned a deep red and threw a washcloth at him.

"Jack, put it away," she said finally turning around.

She couldn't bare to face him. Shut up, Gwen, she thought. She immediately thought of the others upstairs and hoped to whatever higher being out there that CCTV was being ignored or shut off. Wishful thinking, she thought.

What he did next was of his own accord. Gwen had expected him to just close the curtain and leave. She didn't expect him to just climb in with her shutting the curtain behind him. He put a hand on her waist pulling her closer to his chest.

"Jack?" she turned to face him.

She moved back bumping into the wall. He moved closer bringing both hands against the wall. The water still rained on them. Gwen's chest heaved as the towel she was wearing was the only thing separating them.

"What is this thing you've done to me," he asked.

He was pouring his heart out to her trying to understand what it was about her that kept him coming back for more. She was looking at him with that adorable look she got when she was confused. Her hair looked sexy wet and her hands wrinkled from water. He'd have to tell her to wear it wet more often. He'd also have to tell her she'd have to walk around in a towel more often.

"What?" she asked confused.

Jack looked her up and down and sighed. He needed to do this properly, not in the Torchwood showers where he figured Tosh, Ianto and Owen were already trying to zoom the camera in more.

"Not here," he told her and kissed her on the lips. Before either could deepen the kiss he pulled away taking in her shocked face, "See me after the team leaves. If you still want to that is."

Gwen's eyes widened as he reluctantly let her go and stepped out. Just before closing the curtain he gave her a quick smile. Gwen was stuck against the wall. She couldn't move let alone breathe after what had just happened. Just what was this man up to now, she thought.

She slowly unplastered herself from the wall and finished her shower. As she ran her hand through her hair a final time she couldn't help, but smile.