She stared at her sister for a long time. Something inside, deep inside her twisted. She knew, knew what was coming, what was being asked. Her conversation with the Doctor ran through her head at breakneck speed. It all made sense now. It all tied up neatly into a nice packaged box.

She shook her head, once, twice, a thousand times. "Tish," she said, choosing to look across the room rather than at the sad affectation.

Tish shook her head in answer. "It's all right Martha." She sniffed, then Tish gave her brave face. "I understand. I mean," she lowered her head and Martha could see the shame on her face. "I couldn't do it either. It's too painful for me to…"

She was on her feet, rushing toward Tish and Martha could feel the sadness pouring from her sister. "I know," she nodded. "But maybe some things are left in the ether, yeah?" she drew Tish into a fierce hug. "It's probably better that he stays where he is, everything happens for a reason , Tish."

"Not everything." Tish asserted. "What if this is one of those things that you can change? Make better?"

"There is nothing that could make this better. It's just something that should not be. We have to get past it one step at a time. My helping bringing him into the world is not going to make anything better."

"Martha," Tish implored. "It's not his fault." She stepped back from Martha and began to wring her hands. "It's not his fault."

"Tish, I don't see how any good could come of this. Watching that child grow would only serve to remind you of everything you have been through."

"But, not watching him and wondering how he would be, its killing me."

"Then why did you terminate the pregnancy, Tish?" Martha had begun to wonder.

Her sister lowered her head. "Have you ever done something in a rush? My emotions were all over the place. I couldn't think, all I could do was see it in my head, over and over again. Martha I couldn't live the way things were then. "

He stood in front of the bakery, hands in his pockets, face so far away she wondered what he was thinking, or remembering.

"Thanks." She smiled sadly. "I didn't know who else to call."

"You can always call me Tish." The American man turned and offered his best smile to the diminutive woman.

"I do always call you." She smiled back, though the action never quite reached either of their eyes. "I guess you are sort of my security blanket."

He took her hand in his, "Always, Tish." He "You know how much I love a good bed."

Tish averted her stare, and he could tell his jibe was not the right thing to say to her. "Tish," he steadied his hand before he touched her, and moved it fast when she flinched at his touch.

"It's been hard, you know? A lot harder to put it all away, I guess it should be that way, but why does it have to be?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah,"

She knew she was rambling, but anything was better than admitting the truth. "Its cold out here. Let's go in and warm up."

Jack nodded and led her inside of the bakery with a small café. The scent of pumpkin spice and sugary bites assaulted her as she stepped inside and Tish felt her already sensitive stomach roll over at the odor. "This was a bad idea." She mumbled.

"You want to go somewhere else?" he asked.

Tish smiled at his concern. Jack Harkness may have been an unrepentant flirt, but he was a hell of a friend. She shook her head, took a deep breath and pushed herself to enter the posh bakery.

"They have great coffee here." He grinned as the two made themselves comfortable on a sofa in the back.

"I come here for the cake." She smiled. "They have the best chocolate cake here. When we were kids, Mum and Dad used to get a cake from here every Sunday for tea."

The waitress came over and took their orders. Tish ordered the cake and a decaf, while Jack ordered an extra-large triple shot. "Decaf?" he asked. "You having trouble sleeping?"

"Amongst other things." She nodded. "It's a lot of things sort of multiplying. I thought, once we left the valiant, I thought I could put it all behind me."

"You can, you know." He shrugged. "You can get past it Tish."

She stared at her hands as she spoke. "I don't think I can Jack. I realize no one remembers, I realize it just never happened. But it did. It did happen. All of it, all of the horrible pain and memories are stuck in my head, and no matter how many UNIT psychiatrists tell me it's going to be all right, I have a hard time believing it."

The waitress brought their order to the table; she was a young girl, probably still in university. She smiled at Jack's charming response and Tish felt a jealousy she was not ready to deal with. It was a realization that the smile the waitress wore was one of sheer joy. She bore no memories of pain and horror. Her name tag said Claire and Tish realized this girl was free from the burden of remembering.

Jack caught something in her demeanor as the girl left their table; he turned his attention from his large piece of cake to her. "What is really going on Tish?" he asked.

Tish shrugged, "There are things that happened on the Valiant…"

He reached his hand across the table to take hers. "I know Tish."

"No," she took her hand from his, aware of his attraction to her, and hers to him. "No, Jack. I…" she looked down at her cake, and it was enough to set off what she had been fighting since they entered.

"You didn't!" Martha smiled, glad for a break in the heavy cloud of Tish's memories.

"All over the table." Tish nodded with an honest grin. "The waitress came over with a ton of wet rags and looked at me as if I had grown three new heads."

"Oh, Tish, that is priceless."

"By the time I had come back from the bathroom, Jack had the whole thing under control."

"Yeah, that sounds like Jack. They are lucky they didn't all get retconned." She was surprised at how bitter that made her.

"It's all right." Jack smiled as he helped Claire with damage control. Other customers had begun to stare at the couple in the back. They were whispering and some even got up to leave.

"Is she sick?" Claire shot over to Jack, and Tish felt anger rise as she realized that Claire had placed her in the category of a non-person.

"I'm not sick." Tish said, making her way back to her seat. "I'm just—"

"Pregnant." Jack smiled. One of his everyone is going to calm down and chill the fuck out smiles. "Just little morning sickness." Jack announced loudly, looking around the café to everyone, making sure the story was heard by all.

It was all too much. Tish placed her napkin over her mouth and ran for the front of the café. She heard shouts of congratulations as she made her way to the front door. By the time she was out onto the London streets, she was in tears.

He found her shivering across the street. "Congratulations." He spoke with a smile. "I was wondering why you ordered decaf. Who's the lucky guy?" Surprise overwhelmed his features as her crying ratcheted up at his words. "What?" he asked

Tish shook her head. "Think for a second, Jack." She sniffed.

He did. He stood silent, standing over her in his protective mode. He stretched backwards a bit as the realization began to sink in. "I never knew." He muttered.

"No one did. If anyone knew what was going on, well, even the Master didn't want certain things to come to light." She spat.

It was an odd moment, for once Jack did not know what to say, and Tish didn't offer any prompts. "Tish," he spoke finally. "I am so sorry that you had to live through that."

"As if pity is going to make everything better." But immediately regretted snapping at him. "Look, just leave the pity for those who don't remember, ok? The things I did, I did."

"He didn't force you?" Jack strained.

"Not in the ways you would think."

They began to walk toward Jack's car. The SUV stood dark and ominous against the bleak London November. "I know you really don't want to talk about it."

"You're right; I am tired of talking about what happened. I have three UNIT professionals for that."

"But if you ever do need to talk about it." He finished.

"What I need is help. Jack. I have no intentions of going through with this pregnancy."

He stopped then, placed his hands on her shoulders. "You mean you really are pregnant?" he asked shocked.

She huffed in exasperation. "Why the hell else did I call you down here from Cardiff? For coffee and puke? I need your help. You have told me you work for Torchwood, big alien hunter. Well, I got an alien for you to hunt."

"He was as shocked as you were, Martha. He had no idea what happened on the Valiant."

"But the guards?" she asked.

"No one wants to talk about something they were not sure even existed. Most of them were put in jail anyway for the murder of the President."

Tish was right. The blow back from the Valiant was one giant shit storm. "And some ended up sectioned." She nodded.

"Fanciful stories of aliens and missing years. No one wants to hear anything that messes with their sense of reality. Especially Americans. They just wanted to know that the assassination was accounted for."

Martha nodded. She knew a little something about denial and bad memories left t in the far corners of existence. "He got you into the xenobiologist?" she asked.

"Oh, you know about him? Squirrely little shit wanted to get him out and dissect him. He had a hard on for that embryo from the moment he found out. No, Jack didn't get me in to see him. Jack wanted me to come to Torchwood, have Owen look me over."

"Oh," Martha grinned. "Owen."

"You need to get checked out." Jack insisted.

"No, really?" she bit.

"Tish, I realize this is not a great situation for you, but any number of things could be wrong with this. Any number of their biology could affect yours in ways you are not capable of understanding."

"Right," she nodded. "'Cause I am just a stupid ape with no knowledge of how the universe works." She realized too late that she had gone on the defense; that the Master's words were still rambling through her head at breakneck speed.

"Tish," he pled.

She shook her head as they stood by his car. "It's not you." She wiped a tear away. "I don't mean to snap."

"Hormones." He nodded. "Been there, did it, got the shirt." He grinned. "Look, why don't you come to Torchwood with me? We can get everything looked at."

She nodded, "Ok, we can go to Torchwood, but you get to explain about your pregnancy."

"Deal." He grinned.

"But, as things usually go with Jack, we never made it to Torchwood that day."

"Weevil attack?" Martha asked knowingly.

"Yeah, he dropped me off at home. I got the referral for the xenobiologist from my therapist. I had

to tell her what was going on."

"That must have been fun." Martha groaned/

"She was the one that sent me over to Dr. Talbot. He was just thrilled to have a chance at a vivisection."

"Miss Jones," he grinned big in that false salacious manner Tish was accustomed to. "We have a few options regarding your…situation."

The fact that he could not use the word 'pregnancy' irked Tish. It was as if the too young doctor wanted to build as big of a void between the actuality and the reality. Tish was done with false realities. In the three weeks she had been coming to see him, he still had not used the word. He reported that the test was positive. Dr. Talbot announced that the ultrasound was conclusive, but never once did he confirm the pregnancy. The morning sickness, bloating and anxiety were all too real for her to set aside in the name of science. "I'm pregnant."

Dr. Talbot nodded, leaned back in his chair and waved away her assertion. "The fact is," he hemmed. "Is that no one here really knows what you can expect with your situation. Prolonged exposure to alien biology could present hazards to your health as well as endanger the lives of everyone on this planet."

"It's a baby, it's not a disorder or a matter of national security."

He leaned forward. "You're here aren't you?" he sniffed arrogantly. "And, anyway, the species in question may or may not pose a danger to the public at large."

"Really?" Tish asked, arms folded. "Species? Can you get any more clinical?"

But, the good doctor continued on as if Tish had not called his bedside manner into question. "I mean, that the being responsible has a history of torture, enslavement of the human race, murder and out right genocide."

Tish stood to get up. "I think I have heard enough." She said. "I have come here three times, and in each one of these visits, you have done little else but trying to convince me to terminate this preganancy."

Dr. Talbot stood himself. "Miss Jones, the fact is, this is a very tenable situation. Retention of this condition is a threat."

"You just want the tissue." She asserted. Tish grabbed her purse from the floor and headed for the door. "I think I will see my sister, she seems to have a better handle on alien biology."

"I bet she does." He sneered from his perch behind his desk. "But the truth is, you know I am right. Dr. Jones is too far into this to give you any sort of rational medical advice."

Tish turned the door handle, fighting with her own temper to keep from killing the smarmy man "And you have your own agenda." She accused.

He moved quickly, faster than Tish had expected. He was young, true, but he also seemed to be more professionally invested in her pain than she had thought. "Tish," he started, reached out to grab her arm. Tish moved faster, angled away from him and cast a dangerous look in his direction, but her glare did nothing to ward off the man. "Do you really want a constant reminder of what has been done to you? Even if you go forth with this pregnancy, was is going to happen to that child? Do you really want to look on that face every day for the rest of your life?"

"Get the hell away from me." She warned, finally deciding that an audible flare shot would be heard better than her covert one.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I am just trying to help you." He grinned salaciously.

"And your career." She abated.

Dr. Talbot shook his head. "No, well maybe." He nodded then, duplicitous in his actions. "But think, Tish. Will the world let that child exist? I know about it, and I am sure I am not the only one."

"Is that a threat?" she asked

"No, but hear me out. Anyone with the right information can do simple maths. Anyone who really wants that infant can get to it. How would you keep him safe?"

She opened the door without another word and left. Tish knew the doctor watched her leave, she could feel his beady grey eyes follow her on her path to the elevator. She kept her head raised against his glare, just so he knew he had not beaten her.

But, the truth of his words rang through her head, and all the way home, it was all she could think of. She didn't want to go crawling to anyone, but she knew that the list of people able to help her was short, really short. She called Martha. The two of them had not been close over the past three months since the Valiant. The phone rang four times and went to voicemail. The chipper voice on the other end offered Tish the option to leave a message. Her finger poised over the end button, but at the last moment, she made a decision.

"I am so sorry I wasn't there for you," Martha spoke, not sure of what else to say.

Tish took her sister's hand. "It's in the past, Martha." She assured her. "And, anyway, it worked out for the best. Dr. Talbot was right, you know. You were far too close to the situation. I needed an impartial voice, someone who would look at the entire situation and give me a completely honest answer."

Martha nodded. "You called Jack again."

"No," Tish smiled. "He called me."

She had put her feet up, a cup of tea cooled on the coffee table beside her. Martha was not going to call her back, it had only bee fifteen minutes, but Tish was certain that her sister would not get back to her before she had to make a decision.

She reached for her cell phone again, determined to call Martha and make a more pleading request. Just as she picked up the phone, it rang in her hand.

"How's that cold?" Jack asked mysteriously. "You taking anything for it?"

It took seconds of silence for her to realize what he really meant. "Still coughing and wheezing." She answered in that same mysterious cadence. "I've been seeing a doctor about it."

"Talbot, right?" he answered.

The fact that he knew exactly which doctor she had been seeing made her nervous. Jack's demeanor, coupled with Talbot's threats, sent her into high alert. "Yeah, he's a good one."

"Well, I brought you some chicken soup. Sorry to make you come out in this weather, but I'm in a hurry, so can you come downstairs and get it"

Tish was amazed at how good he was at this. Proper cloak and dagger. It would have been fun if she wasn't sure she was the one in danger. Well, her and her baby. "Great, Jack. You are a lifesaver! Good ole Jewish penicillin. " She forced joviality in her voice, but her heart was pounding so loud she was sure it was audible through the connection.

He disconnected and Tish rose to her feet. She pocketed her cell phone, grabbed her mug of tea and ran downstairs. As far as anyone watching would know, she was getting some soup from a friend. She didn't even take her purse.

"How did you know?" Martha asked.

Tish shrugged and shook her head. "You know, if you would have asked me at the time, I would have merely said it was intuition. But there was something different, Martha.. It was like this inherent need to protect that baby. It was as if I could hear what Jack was really saying. I grabbed my mug of tea, so that if anyone was watching me get into Jack's SUV, they would assume I was just having a chat with my friend. I was never one to believe in mother's intuition," she shrugged again. "But, it's the only thing I can pin it as."

"What was Jack so worried about?" she asked.

She slid into the passenger side of the large vehicle. Jack sat in front of the wheel, an easy smile on his face, but his eyes hooded and worried.

She opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head, started the car, and took off.

It was halfway down the M-5 on their way to Cardiff before he spoke. "So I get an alert that there is a situation that involved Unit and all of Torchwood." He began.

"Oh?" she asked, but nodded. Tish did not need to be told what it was about.

"You need to leave for a while." Jack went on.

"Ok," she nodded unsure.

"This has become a matter for worldwide security, Tish. The FBI, CIA, UNIT, MI-5, and a few other organizations you should not know about. I have to make you disappear and make this all go away as well." He glanced over to gauge her emotions, "Its serious Tish. I got to you before anyone else, I think they forgot how friendly we are. But, the order was to get to you at all costs. "

"They want the baby." She nodded.

"What they want is unclear, I don't even think they are sure of it yet, but Harold Saxon was a dangerous man, and the Master was a dangerous being of unknown origin. They don't even have a protocol for this sort of situation." He shook his head. "I have to make sure they don't get to you, or that baby."

Tish leaned against the door, her head rested upon the chilly window. "Thanks for keeping us safe." She sighed.

Jack shook his head. "You know how I feel about you Tish," he offered with an odd look. "But in all honesty, this is way bigger than just trying to keep the two of you safe. I can't let them get a hold of any part of that baby. The Master was like the Doctor, a Time Lord's anatomy is an impossible thing, even tissue of a child that has that DNA could change the face of existence as we know it."

Tish raised her head. "What, are they gods or something."

Jack laughed, "Well, the lot of them would have liked to think they were." He shook his head. "No, they aren't gods, but in the face of our technology, they may as well be."

Tish nodded, it was like an ant having the means to achieve world domination. Sure, given the right circumstances, they could do it, but who would want to live in that universe. "I get it."

They drove for two hours, Jack seemed perpetually on edge, and he ignored his phone when it rang. Ten minutes from their destination he spoke again. "I'm taking you to the Hub, to Torchwood. I would rather not take you there, but I made a phone call, and we are expecting a guest."

She sat up straighter at that. "A guest? Is that such a good idea? I mean, the fewer people who know where I am, the better." Tish dragged her hands through her hair as she spoke.

"Oh," Jack smiled an honest brilliant smile. "We want this guest."

"The Doctor." Martha nodded.

"He was there about five minutes after we arrived. Jack said he had to leave a message, that the doctor had not answered the phone."

Martha nodded, remembering how difficult it had been for her to reach him while she was lookingfor Tish. "He didn't know the number." She smiled.

"That Torchwood, what I saw of it, was outside of anything my imagination could ever dream up." She shook her head, and Martha laughed. "Did you see the pterodactyl? She asked.

Tish nodded. "And then some. Jack kept telling me to suspend my reality for a while, I kept pinching myself to make sure I wasn't still home on the couch."

They shared a small laugh, and Martha could tell that the story was coming easier for her. She had a million questions, but knew from experience that her sister was going to tell the story her way, and in her own time. Rushing it would only hinder the progress that her sister was making. Martha could see relief written over her sister's face, and the burden of her secrets was easing in the sharing. They morning had long since departed into afternoon, and the sun danced a hazy late fall glow across the room.

"Martha," Tish began again. "When the Doctor came, he was. It seemed like he was expecting to see you."

She had never seen the magical box appear. It seemed to draw life from nothing. The entire room danced and illuminated.

Jack stood next to her, as the rest of his team seemed to be as in awe of the materialization as she had been. But, jack stood stoic and ready. When the blue door opened, it was as if the room held its collective breath.

He popped his head out first, as if ready for an attack. His elfish face lit up when he saw Jack. "Well, nice place you have here, Jack." The Doctor announced as he fully emerged. "Not what I would have done with the place, but you know." The Doctor turned around taking in the entire scene. "Oh, haven't seen one of those in ages." He grinned, pointing to something in the distance, "Oh, and you shouldn't have one of those, Jack. I think I may have to confiscate that." He stormed over to something he had seen.

"Doctor," Jack tried to get the alien refocused. "I didn't call you here for redecorating tips. "

"Well," the Doctor went on from over his shoulder, "Why not, its obvious you need it."

Jack moved closer to the Doctor, tapped his shoulder and spoke. "Doctor, this is important." He announced.

The Doctor stopped ogling the alien equipment in the Hub and turned to face Tish. "Oh?" he asked."Oh," he finally noticed Tish in the room. "Tish?" he asked confused. Where's Martha, is she all right?"

Jack turned to Tosh, Owen and Gwen. "I need you guys to do what we talked about, agreed? Find everything you can, bury it, burn it, quash it, and do whatever it takes. I don't need to remind you all of how quiet this all has to be. This is home territory; let's take care of our own. I am going to take these two for a bit." He pointed to the conference room.

"Jack," the Doctor's voice had turned dark and serious. "Where is she, what's happened?"