Author's Notes: Yay! It only took me two weeks this time! I probably would have had this out sooner, but we were wrapping up graduation business at work and I needed to do quick research about how much power the Queen of England actually has (which necessitated a minor correction). On the other hand, I wanted to have this chapter done and posted by this afternoon (Saturday-my neighbors are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a renewing of their vows today). That's been accomplished. So, we're inching toward the first confrontation … namely, the one in Thames House. By now, after reading this series, you should expect it to be wholly different from how things went originally. Really, really, really different (bobs head earnestly). And don't be surprised if the next chapter has some influences from the new Transformers movie coming out on Friday … no 'Bots or 'Cons will be showing up, but sometimes, movies trigger something or make me look at something in a different way. The Brad Thor book I just finished up did that as well. And now, on with the chapter!

Chapter Ten

Those Who Wait

Somewhere between Cardiff and London

The following morning

Rhys Williams would never forget the first time he realized the difference between Suzie Costello Williams, his wife and Anwen's mother, and Suzie Costello Williams, the Assistant Director of Torchwood Cardiff. Oh, he knew that there was a difference between the woman whom he married and the woman who was Jack's second in command. That was never in doubt. But until that day, he'd never really seen the difference, because he'd never really seen his Suzie in action. And she'd been impressive … scratch that, she'd been bloody incredible.

It was only a few months after Anwen came to them (and Rhys was sure that Jack's friendship with the Queen had something to do with their ease in adopting their little girl. The blighter would never admit it whenever Rhys asked him, of course, just smiled), and the new family was bonding at a local park. The outing was Suzie's idea … however, it was Rhys' idea to go to the park and have an all-day picnic. Picnics were few and far between for his wife while she was growing up, and Rhys was determined to rectify that … as often as possible. And Suzie was still on family leave, courtesy of Jack (again).

Rhys still wasn't entirely clear about the events leading up to it … they were packing up as dusk fell, one parent staying with Anwen while the other one carried their supplies back to their car. It was his turn to carry, leaving Suzie to watch over Anwen … and when he returned to his wife and their daughter, it was to find his Suzie standing protectively in front of their little girl, gun trained on one of those alien blokes that Jack and the rest of Torchwood called 'Weevils,' cussing him out in English and (what he assumed to be) Italian. The Weevil lunged forward and there wasn't time for Rhys to cry out. But Suzie … Suzie fired without hesitation.

Anwen, who'd been calm up until that point, began wailing at the loud noise. Rhys wanted to weep as well, but for another reason. He married this woman. He married this extraordinary woman, who hadn't even hesitated, who hadn't made a sound … just did what she had to do to protect her family. One moment, his wife was this bad-arse alien fighter, but by the time she'd turned around, the safety was back on the gun and she was scooping Anwen into her arms, covering her face with kisses, even as tears streaked her own face. Rhys enveloped them both in his arms, trembling as he began to realize just how much danger both his wife and daughter were in. But Suzie never even hesitated … she simply protected their daughter … and Rhys himself.

The following day, while Suzie and Esther were investigating possible reasons for the Weevil showing up there, Jack invited Rhys and Anwen into his office. While Anwen played with Jack's fingers and his braces (and anything else she could get her little fingers on), Rhys sipped at Jack's whiskey, holding his glass with a trembling hand. And when Jack inquired how that entire scenario made Rhys feel, the lorry driver had to admit that he was terrified, and angry, and sodding well turned on. He glanced at Jack, asking if that made him strange. Jack offered him a smile that was equally sad and amused, before answering, 'Rhys, I'd be more worried if seeing what a bad-ass your wife can be didn't turn you on.' Rhys blushed, but grinned anyhow … funny, how that one sentence from Jack did more to help than anything else anyone said up to that point. And Jack's next words were an even bigger help. Kissing the top of Anwen's head, he added, 'and there's no doubt in my mind, Rhys, that you can be just as bad-ass when you need to be.' Rhys started to protest, but stopped because really … why would he argue with Jack Harkness about this, Jack who was sodding Action Man come to life?

Funny. Months later, he was getting the opportunity to find out if Jack was right, and as was so often the case, the circumstances sucked rocks. Not that there was ever a question in Rhys' mind whether he would do it or not. In the first place, it was Suzie asking it of him … and up until now, the most he'd done for Torchwood was take supplies to Flat Holm. That was one thing (it took him months to stop having nightmares about the screams, and Jack hadn't asked him to take supplies in a while). But this … normally, Rhys would be taking things, not people. And yet … how could he say 'no,' even if it wasn't Suzie asking?

From what Jack told them, the people inside Thames House would be in danger, whether Jack confronted these aliens or not. Rhys could see his point … there were so many ways things could go wrong, with the way the government was playing this. He was just a lorry driver and he could see this, why couldn't they? He posed that question to Suzie as they drove to London, and not surprisingly, his wife had an answer for him. She observed quietly, "You see things as they are, Rhys. You have no political clout, the only things you're afraid of losing are me and Anwen. Your sight isn't being clouded by fear of losing political power."

Rhys shook his head. He knew his wife was right … but these arses were fighting the very people who were trying to protect them! When he pointed this out to Suzie, she responded with a small smile, saying, "No, my love. We're trying to protect this planet, not them. Frobisher and Green and the others can burn for all I care. In fact, once this is over, I'll light the bonfire myself. The only reason I haven't gone public with what I know is because that would make things worse instead of better." The other reason was to protect Jack. Not from what his other self did in the dream world (and Rhys was still ashamed at how he reacted when he heard the full story), but from the general public from finding out that there was a man who couldn't stay dead.

There were good people in this world. He knew that. He knew that like he knew his name, like he knew how to take care of Suzie after a particularly rough day, like he knew how to get their daughter calmed down after she had a nightmare and wanted mummy. But there were also people who would torture someone in the name of humanity, in the name of science. And he would not subject anyone he cared about to that. Rephrase. He wouldn't allow anyone to be subjected to that, much less someone he cared about.

And he realized as his wife waited for his answer, as he listened to Anwen babble happily, that his time of waiting was over. He meant what he told Jack about not belonging in Torchwood. He was more comfortable as a homebody, making sure that Suzie and Anwen (and their extended family) were all right. But really, this wasn't about Torchwood, it was about doing what was right. Those people at Thames House didn't deserve to die just for going to work, and they didn't deserve to die because their bosses decided to roll over for these alien bastards.

With that in mind, he told Suzie quietly, "I'll do it." She all but sagged in relief, her fingers tangling with his before raising his hand to her lips and kissing his knuckles. Rhys was no fool. He knew there would be consequences for what he was doing. And as long as Anwen didn't get caught in the crossfire, he would bear those consequences. But if someone hurt his daughter because of what he did today, he knew who was to blame, and it wasn't the woman sitting beside him, or the rest of their family. Whoever that person was would find out first-hand just what those who stand and wait were truly capable of.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

"Got it!"

Toshiko Sato-Harkness grinned viciously. Devin's fussing woke her early this morning, and since her husband was still sleeping like the dead (worn out from worrying about his brother and about everything else), Tosh got up to see to her son. And then, true to form recently, she couldn't go back to sleep. In truth, she hadn't been sleeping well ever since the planets were moved. There was this overpowering sense that something was coming, and Tosh spent many nights tinkering when she couldn't sleep.

This time, however … this time, she went over the CCTV footage with a fine-tooth comb, holding her sleeping son against her chest until a mortified Gray got up and put Devin back to bed. Thanks to the influence of Brigadier-General (retired) Lethbridge-Stewart and the insistence of the Queen, Tosh had access to all of the black ops teams in the United Kingdom. And now she knew who targeted her team, her family. Her cry of triumph drew the attention of both Her Majesty and her husband.

"Who is it, my dear?" the Queen asked quietly. A glance over her shoulder told Tosh that Elizabeth II was quietly furious, her blue eyes cold and hard. Tosh swallowed hard and began to explain what she'd been doing. It was habit, but Her Majesty said gently, "There is no need to explain, child. I only need to know the name of the woman who placed a bomb in one of my dearest friends and who blew up the car of a civilian woman." Technically speaking, since Francine was helping Torchwood, she was no longer a civilian, but Tosh didn't bother to point that out. She was sure the queen already knew it.

"Her name is Agent Cordelia Johnson," Tosh began and really, was there ever a more unlikely name for someone like this bitch? Not that she commented on it … it had nothing to do with what they needed to know. Instead, she proceeded to outline what she knew about their human enemy. And that was exactly what Tosh considered the woman … her enemy. Not as a misguided person trying to do the right thing, not as a potential ally who was acting under orders, but an enemy. She could have forgiven her for destroying the Hub … but for what she did to Jack and what she tried to do to Francine Jones? No. No, despite her years of working with the most forgiving man she'd ever met, that was one thing Tosh was never able to learn from Jack. What Johnson and her men had done to Jack and Francine was unforgiveable.

"Actually, my dear, when I'm finished with her, her name will be mud. Her, and everyone who has served with her on this debacle. In our community, reputation is everything and when word gets out, she won't be hired as a dog-catcher," the Brigadier observed rather archly. Tosh and Gray looked at the older man, who merely smiled at them. He pointed out, "I am retired from UNIT, but my contacts aren't limited to UNIT. Besides, her Majesty has other possibilities open to her." The worthy lady in question merely smiled beatifically. Tosh couldn't speak for her husband, but the Queen's expression sent chills down her spine.

A quick glance at Gray warned her to hold her own counsel … this was out of their hands. The Brig said into the silence that followed, "If I recall correctly, Jack mentioned that they would be arriving today, correct?" Tosh nodded, and the UNIT general continued, "Good. Our work isn't done, not by far. One thing that has impressed me so far about you, Toshiko Sato-Harkness, is that you haven't asked where the Doctor is." That was right … the Brig was considered one of the Doctor's Companions, just as Jack was.

However, it was Gray who replied, "Honestly, sir, I'm not sure we want the Doctor here. Torchwood, and my brother, is more than capable of solving this, even if UNIT is doing its damnedest to cause more problems. No offense to you, sir, but even if I ignore them locking Tosh away without a trial, UNIT has been more trouble than it's worth lately. I get that the Doctor used to work with you people, and I get that he has nothing but disdain for Torchwood and my brother, but right now, UNIT is the problem, not the solution, and I don't trust the Doctor not to side with UNIT against us."

Tosh opened her mouth, remembering the Doctor in the leather jacket when she was in London to investigate the pig who crashed (since Owen was hung over at the time, something Jack knew and they should have realized he knew), but Gray added, "I know, Tosh. I trust the Doctor who sent me to Jack, and I've no doubt that I'd trust the Doctor whom you met and who reminded Jack who and what he is … but there are other incarnations who I don't trust."

"Regardless of your reasons, son, it speaks well of you that you're focused on what you can do, rather than relying on the Doctor to do it … as does your faith in your brother," the Brig said. Gray's ears turned a bit red, and Tosh ducked her head with a small smile. The Brig continued, "So. We now know the name of the individual who is carrying out the orders. You've done your job, Miss Tosh. Now, you are going to rest and allow her Majesty to do her part and me to do mine. Come along." Tosh was on the point of telling him that she wasn't tired, and there was still work to be done, but the huge yawn that nearly cracked her jaw ruined any credibility she might have had about not being tired.

Besides, Gray was already sweeping her into his arms, drawing a startled squeak from her, and saying, "He's right, angel-face. If you'll excuse me, Brig, your Majesty, I need to tuck my wife into bed." The Queen smiled gently, waving them out of the room, and behind Gray, Tosh could hear the old soldier and the Queen of England discussing whatever would come next. Later in the day, they would meet up with Jack and the others. Tosh rested her head on her husband's shoulder as he carried her into the room where they'd been resting since their arrival in London.

Inside the room, he set her on her feet and kissed the side of her head, murmuring, "Check on Devin, sweetheart, and then get changed. I just need to send a message to Jack." Tosh nodded and moved quietly to their son's cot. Even now, five months after his birth, looking at her baby boy took Tosh's breath away and melted her heart in her chest. She helped to create this beautiful child, she helped to create him and she carried him for nine months. Only hours after Devin was born, she whispered to Jack that she hoped he wouldn't be offended if she said that she regarded Devin as her greatest accomplishment.

Jack had laughed softly and kissed the top of her head, answering in an equally soft voice that he would have been more offended if she said anything else. Tosh counted that as one of the loveliest things he'd ever said to her. Jack added that it would grow, that feeling, as Devin grew up and become a good man. Tosh raised her eyebrows at that, asking if he knew something she didn't. As soon as the words were out, she wanted to call them back, because there was no end to what Jack knew and she didn't. But he merely smiled and told her that Devin was her son and Gray's … of course he would be a good man.

And he would be a good man … just like his father, just like his uncle. Tosh would see to that, and if she couldn't, Gray would … and if Devin lost them both, there was still Jack. Tosh was convinced that if he was given the real chance, Jack would make a wonderful father. Alice agreed, telling Tosh stories about when she was little, before her world was up-ended and her father was taken from her life. When he was allowed to be, Alice said as they sat together one day near the end of Tosh's pregnancy, Dad was a wonderful father to me, and I know that if something happens to me, he'll be a wonderful father for Steven. Alice had complete faith in her father. So did Tosh.

Now that she wasn't focused on finding Agent Johnson and her team, Tosh's fatigue settled in far more quickly. She stroked a petal-soft cheek, murmuring, 'mummy loves you, Devin,' before making her way to her suitcase and pulling out a nightshirt. By the time she was putting her dirty clothes in the appropriate suitcase, her feet were dragging and Gray was re-entering the room. She crawled under the covers, sighing with contentment when Gray slipped in beside her, drawing her into his arms. They were right. She knew they were right, and she would take her rest now. Soon enough, the rest of the team would be here, and she would be needed. She could wait, or she could sleep. And after her time in that UNIT prison cell, Tosh really wasn't that good at waiting. So, she curled into her husband's embrace, allowing herself to drift off to sleep.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTW

He didn't like to admit it (actually, he would rather die than ever admit to even having a heart), but he was worried about Jack, and not just in a 'holy fucking hell, someone put a bomb in his gut, how in the hell did he come back from that?' kind of way. Sure, he was worried about how the situation and the stress would affect Esther's pregnancy, about how Alice would handle having a sibling younger than her son, and he was worried about Steven … since this began, the boy had grown steadily much quieter and far angrier. He was even worried about how Ianto was reacting to the potential of being a father. That, in some ways, was even more terrifying than the prospect of going up against both the 456 and their unwitting (or not so unwitting) human allies.

But above all, he was worried about Jack. His relationship with the immortal had been strained in the beginning. He both loved and hated Jack, resented him and felt a curious protectiveness toward Jack. That all changed with the Year … no, that wasn't right, either. That began with Abaddon's rising, and the days Jack was dead after his final confrontation with the demon prince. It began with Alice's vigil at her father's side, her son in her lap or curled against Jack's side, as if Steven's warmth could bring his grandfather back to life … with the sight of Tosh almost literally flying into Jack's arms … with those arms closing around him and holding him tightly, with Jack's voice whispering that he was forgiven.

That was the beginning. But the Year gave him unexpected (and sometimes unwanted) time with his boss. Time that he often didn't allow himself to remember. It was during those times, when Jack was lost to fevers, talking about things that he would have never spoken of while he was in his right mind, that Owen began to put the pieces of his captain's past together, pieces that he hoped Alice would never hear about … pieces that he wished he hadn't heard about. He heard about Gray, long before the pseudo-Gray came and tried to destroy everything that mattered to them, about the invasion which took most of Jack's family from him and completely annihilated his childhood … and about the mother who blamed Jack for Gray's disappearance (Gray later told him that their mother lashing out at Jack for her younger son's loss ended up destroying their relationship as well. Owen bought him a drink for that).

That was the worst part, because it reminded Owen too much of his own mother. During those times, he would hold Jack tightly and tell him everything that he wished people told him. That was also the only time he could tell Jack just what he meant to him. Owen Harper was a bloke, and he didn't take about his feelings. Except when he did. Except when his boss … his brave, loyal, aggravating boss … was unconscious or dead, and Owen was waiting for him to come back. And often, after one of Jack's especially nasty deaths, Owen was in for quite a wait.

It was almost formulaic, after a while. Either the Master (talk about being poorly self-named) would conduct one of his experiments to see what Jack would come back from, or Jack goaded him into killing him to protect one of the others (often a member of Martha's family, although he was known to protect the Doctor and other innocents on the Valiant, people who happened to get in the crossfire). By the end of the first month, Owen hated watching Jack die and come back … but it was far harder on Tosh and Alice … or, worse yet, Steven. The team learned the hard way to keep Steven away when Jack died, after the little boy tried to attack the Master for hurting his grandfather. It wasn't just that the Master had no issue with harming a child … it was that he would harm Steven to torment Jack. And since Alice would die before she'd allow harm to come to her son … well, for the sake of all, Steven was kept far away from the Master.

They received unexpected help in that endeavor from the delusional Lucy Saxon, who seemed to fixate on Steven as her own son. Owen found it strange, but didn't argue. You didn't look a gift psycho in the mouth, an observation that made Jack smile when he'd revived one day. A quiet sigh from Alice distracted Owen from his reverie and he asked softly, "You okay, Mel?" She flashed him a small smile … probably not just at the question, but the nickname as well. He'd taken to calling her 'Mel' in quiet moments, when it was just the two of them. Suzie (and Jack) called her by her birth name of 'Melissa,' and while a pretty name, it didn't really suit her. 'Mel,' on the other hand, did.

"Just trying to work through everything in my mind, Owen. I've been thinking a lot about my mum, since we found out that Esther is pregnant," Alice admitted. Owen nodded. Yeah, he would imagine she was … thinking about her mother, and about her own pregnancy with Steven. However, Alice surprised him when she added, "I'm actually angrier now with her, even more so than when I first started find out the truth. I watch how Dad is with Esther … well, Ianto as well, but Dad … he's so gentle and tender and sweet with her. I know he was no different with my mother, and …" She shook her head, her voice trailing off.

"And you wonder how she could have cut him out of your life, could have done that to both of you," Owen completed and Alice nodded. He had no answers for her. He could have told her that Lucia was doing what she thought best for her daughter, but that rationalization range as empty to him as it did to Alice. He could have said a lot of things, reminded her of countless conversations over the years. But in the end, he did none of that. Instead, he reached across the short distance that separated the driver from the passenger, and squeezed her hand. Instead, he asked, "Do you think you'll ever forgive her?"

"I don't know," she answered with a half-laugh that tore at Owen's heart, "I don't know, and that's the worst part. I don't tell Dad this, because I know it'll break his heart, but I don't know if I can forgive her. I …" Her voice trailed off again, as she looked out the window, but her fingers tightened around Owen's. The doctor and his captain's daughter sat in silence for several moments. Not for the first time, what he felt for this woman terrified Owen.

But he swallowed his fear once more, reminding himself that she wasn't Diane. Death might remove her from his life, but she wouldn't fly away, wouldn't leave him voluntarily. Rephrase that. She might leave him, but she wouldn't leave her son or her father … and Steven made it very clear that he thought Owen was the best thing to happen to his family since Alice opened her home and her heart to her father again.

At last, Alice broke the silence, telling Owen, "If Mum had just hurt me, I might have been able to forgive her. But she didn't. She hurt me, she hurt Dad, and in the end, she hurt Steven. I see Dad's eyes on me sometimes, like he's afraid I'll disappear … that I'll turn on him again. I honestly don't think I could survive, if I did that." Owen thought about his own relationship with his mother, and thought about telling her that her own mum wasn't that bad. But he held his tongue, because right now, it wasn't about him.

Alice looked at him directly, tears sliding down her cheeks in silver streaks, and said hoarsely, "I want you to know this, Owen. If things do play out as they did in Dad's nightmares, then whoever makes the suggestion to use my son? That person has to throw the switch themselves." Owen swallowed hard, because he heard what went unsaid in Alice's statement. The only way someone else would throw that switch was if they went through Jack first. They both knew that. But he had something to share with his companion.

"It won't come to that, Mel. I need to run a few more tests, but I think I have a possible solution. And Tosh … you know Tosh, when she's not dealing with the who, she's dealing with the how. We said at the beginning, we won't let Steven die … and we won't. We all love that kid," Owen reiterated, and oh God, did he just say THAT word? Alice was blinking at him, so evidently yes, he did say it, and he told her, "You didn't just hear me say that. It was a figment of your imagination, because you didn't get nearly enough sleep last night."

Her lips twitched, and she answered gravely, "Of course. That must be it. We both know that Owen Harper never speaks the dreaded word that starts with 'l' and ends with 'e.' How very foolish!" In that moment, with her eyes twinkling and her lips curving up into a smile, she looked more like her father than she ever had before. That wouldn't have been so bad, but Owen also never wanted to kiss her more than he did at that moment. What that said about him, he really wasn't sure, but he would be sure to take it out of Jack's hide later. This was all his fault. He just knew that it was Jack's fault!

He mock-grumbled, "It is, and don't you ever forget it, either!" Now she actually laughed, and Owen mentally patted his back. More seriously, Owen told her, "I know better than to tell you not to worry. But have faith. Have faith in your dad, and in us." Alice smiled, and again, Owen saw her father in her smile. Her fingers tightened around his as she allowed her head to drop back against the head rest, staring at the car in front of them (which happened to be the one carrying Jack, Ianto and Esther).

"I do have faith in you … I have faith in all of you. And, I have faith in myself. These bastards only think they have the upper hand on Torchwood. They'll find out, the hard way as these people often have to, that we're only just getting started. You snickered at me when I told John Hart that we came back twice as strong before, but I meant every word I said," Alice told him. Owen remembered the case in point. They'd no sooner gotten back to the Hub after the Doctor dropped them off in Wales when they'd gotten a call about a Blowfish in a convertible.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Jack's previous partner in the Time Agency, one John Hart, arrived and started causing trouble. Owen was still a bit in awe of the right hook Alice laid on the rogue Time agent after his initial scuffle with Jack. Ianto was a bit put out that she got there first, but then again, Jack was her father. He told Alice now, "I knew you meant what you said, but you gotta admit, luv, it sounded pretentious." She ducked her head in embarrassment, still smiling, and Owen continued, "Still. He did help with the pseudo-Gray … after he brought him to Cardiff. Bloody hell, woman, stop laughing!"

But there was no heat in his words … at least not of that kind. And Alice continued to laugh, and Owen continued to tease her as the distance from Cardiff grew. He knew things were about to get ugly (or maybe 'uglier' would be a better way of putting it, considering they'd already blown up Jack and took out nearly an entire street). But for now, he was in a car with a beautiful woman … granted, he couldn't do anything physical, but he could make her laugh, and that was something to be cherished, wasn't it? Something to be cherished while they drove, while they waited to learn what their next move would be.

TBC