The problems with Mark and John got worse when Mark refused after a week to let John come home. The rest of the Torchwood team found it annoying that John was around all the time. It was like having an old military commander in charge that loved to have spot inspections with a white glove or pull up files to see what needed to be worked on. No one wanted this. They had work to do and Torchwood, though organized for the most part, was better when its members were allowed a messy pile or two in the corner to give it that homey feel. Even the neat and tidy Ianto Jones had understood that, as long as that pile didn't have an old pizza box under, in the middle, or on top of it. After all, it was bad enough that they still had space cockroaches, but some alien vermin were just not tolerated, not even in an underground part of the sewer that was Torchwood's home. But spot inspections had everyone in Jack's office complaining.

So Jack took matters into his own hands and told Mark to come and collect his husband and fix their problems, or else.

Mark laughed, saying Jack was far from threatening anymore. Mark then said to enjoy this time with his friend because Mark was enjoying his time away from the ass.

Nothing ever went as planned, so Jack sat at his desk and listened to the complaint department every day for another week before he had had enough.

It was on a Thursday afternoon during that spring after NG's attack that John and Mark were made to talk this out in front of the whole staff. This was hard for John, who didn't like his dirty laundry aired out in front of all of Torchwood. But that was why Jack forced it on them. He knew it would mean that John would find a quick fix and take Mark home for some amazing make up sex.

Best plans don't always happen as it turned into a shouting match that made Myfanwy leave the confines of her nest and take off for wherever she would fly to when not in the Hub. It also started to affect NG in the worst way.

At first it was a simple argument, but when it became a poo slinging fest with Mark accusing John of all sorts of horrid things with Ben, Jack watched NG go pale. It wasn't long until John suggested a divorce and Mark agreed. NG flat out started to shake.

They all turned their eyes to NG as he fell to the ground, not being able to control his body. Jack was by his side trying to quiet him while Anna tried to scan him to see what had brought on the fit.

The Rift went crazy, sending out feelers towards NG as if it was picking up on his stress. Dan monitored the signal and began to record it. NG explained that he knew why he couldn't trust his Dad. He was slow at first, as the Rift built up power, thumping loudly as if it was impatient. "I saw today's fight with Papa in a dream the day you left me in France, Dad. You broke Papa's heart and I thought it was because of me." He didn't have a chance to see how his parents reacted as a white light surrounded him and he disappeared right out of Jack's arms.

The Rift went quiet as they all stared at the spot where NG used to be. His arms still holding nothing Jack suddenly felt NG's absence.

The table shook as he materialized next to it, sending a rather expensive looking glass and brass oil lamp to the ground, along with a stack of papers. A shout rang out from a woman's voice. "Peter if that is you, you better not be drunk again or you are out on your ear." The voice became louder as the shadow figure approached from the hall, growing in size from the candle it carried. NG thought the worst and that he had landed in a monster's den that loved old Earth antiques.

The voice manifested human as the form of a woman from the shape entered his line of sight. He sighed in relief that it was no monster. His brain felt like scrambled eggs when he tried to come up with why he was here. But no matter how hard he tried; he couldn't wrap his head around what had just happened.

The old woman let out a scream when she saw NG standing in her living room. He barely had time to focus as she began to threaten him with bodily harm if he didn't vacate her premises. "What kind of depraved mad man are you? Breaking into an old woman's home like you are Jack the Ripper. What kind of ravenous lust do you have in mind?"

It was those words that had NG focusing on her. She was as old as his grandmother, kind of portly with a sleeping cap around her hair. She had on a high collared nightgown that had the same hue of pink in the flower print that now graced her cheeks. NG blinked as the woman eyes gazed hungrily at him. Her lips blew a kiss as her left eye winked at him.

"Madame I don't have any, how did you state it? Ravenous lust for you, I just couldn't help where I was going to show up." He shook as the impact of the leap hit him, sending him to the ground on his knees grabbing his sides.

The woman didn't move as he began to shake and sweat with fury. "What the hell is wrong with you? You aren't going to be sick on my floor, are you? I just bought that rug, took me two years to save for it." She ran to the get him a bucket more out of concern for the rug than for him. He didn't know what to say because the power of speech had left him. He suddenly realized by the newsprint that had landed on the floor from the table that he was in the past. January 15, 1905 was next to the city Cardiff on the masthead. His eyes blurred as he tried to get the name of the paper. The woman returned with the bucket and a glass of water.

"Here drink this, it may help. You are in a sorry state; I should go get you a doctor. But maybe a constable would be in order; you are in a private residence. How did you get in? I just checked the locks and they are untouched." She gave him a little more water, pulling the cup away to let him speak.

A shaking hoarse "thank you" came out, followed by a series of coughs that made the woman back away. "I'm not sure about that or why I ended up here. But the water has helped some. But I don't know if I can move yet. Give me a few minutes and I will be out of your hair." She looked at him reaching for her head. NG realized that the slang must have confused her. "Oh I mean way from here, saying" out of your hair" is just a way of putting that. Sorry. I'm not from around here." He tried a smile; she seemed to relax a little with the softening of his face.

"I'll say you aren't from around here; your accent is off, it sounds more like a foreigner pretending to be Welsh. Are you from another country?" She gasped at the pieces of lamp. "That was my Mum's, the only thing I have of hers." Carefully she placed the remains of the lamp on the table and went to get the larger shards of glass that were scattered on the floor. She didn't have time to clean it up for just then; her door was broken down as two strange men and followed by a woman bursting in.

"Halt, no one move!" NG froze as he recognized the voice.

"The woman is clean, Jack. But the one on the floor, he has Rift energy all over him." The woman said.

"I have nothing to do with that one. He broke in and ruined my lamp. And I may add tried to have his way with me." She moved her head as she caught sight of the handsome man in a military coat. "I am so glad you came to save me. I have to find a way to repay you."

"Um, not in this lifetime, but maybe you should go back to bed. Liz, will you take her to her room and give her a sip of whiskey?"

"I don't want any whiskey, just my lamp back and this one punished to the full extent of the law. Do I make myself clear?" She waved her fat finger at the one in the coat causing the dusty brown haired man next to him to laugh.

"You have a lady admirer, Jack. But then again, that is par for the course with you." The man seemed pleased with the grunt, that he had ruffled Jack's feathers a bit. "Oh, I love teasing you! You are so easy. Not only that way, but others as well."

The voice was flirting with Jack outright and NG didn't want to be part of this. He pulled himself into a ball in order to avoid any contact with Jack. Since he had been a little boy the consequences of a paradox were drilled into him as if it was Torchwood's divine law. That if you traveled back or forward in time it was best to not talk to those who knew you or would know you. Right now it was hard for NG to wrap his mind around the fact that he was in the same room with a 1905 Jack. This had to be handled carefully or he could ruin his own future as well as everyone else that he had in his life.

"Come along Madame, we are the police of sorts and that man must come with us. You will be fully compensated for any damage done. Let's get you settled in bed while they do the clean up here."

Jack waited until the ladies were out of earshot. "Retcon is a wonderful thing, I hope it makes her forget the ugly lamp. It isn't worth the repair. But you, I'm going to ask you once to stand up slowly or I will shoot you. I don't like aliens just stepping through the Rift anytime they want." NG heard the cocking of the trigger and he suddenly wished himself back to the Hub and his time. His head was clearing and he scanned the one next to Jack. His mind was simple, not full of anything unusual except a certain image of what he wanted from Jack when the two men were alone later on. This man also had a fierce loyalty to Jack. If Jack pulled the trigger, this man wouldn't stop him. He believed that whatever Jack did was for the best. 'He is a fool and if I don't start thinking about how to get out of this, I will be the fool because Jack will kill you.'

"I can't stand up. It isn't going to happen. So shoot me." If NG was correct in his studies of past Jack from what he had found when he broke into Jack's real files, this may confuse Jack just a bit.

"Why do you want to be shot?" It was Jack's partner that spoke. "I can understand if you're scared, but your death won't solve anything. We can help you."

"More like end me because you can understand me. I have seen what Torchwood is capable of doing. I've studied the organization. Really, you are rather predictable. Kill all you don't understand. I guess this way you don't have to think, learn or grow. It is a kind of neat, simple way of life, don't you think?" He yelped as the pain cut through his head. He had overstepped his abilities when he tried to get inside of Jack's mind. He should have known that Jack now would be no different than Jack in the future. His mind was still very much off limits.

"Torchwood? I don't know what you are talking about. We are the…" NG cut of the other man before he finished with a laugh.

"Does that line ever really work? I know who you are, well not you personally, I believe the name is Reggie. I remember your file a bit. Have you sampled the great Captain Jack Harkness yet, or are you still at the flirting stage?" He was buying time, in case whatever put him here was going to take him away. He felt Jack shift his position in order to get a better look at him.

Jack knelt down closer to NG with his gun pointed right at his head. "You are going to explain how you know about us and what it is you want. Otherwise I will pull the trigger. Do you understand?"

"And somewhere in the future you will regret doing that, Jack. If you remember, that is. I can only say this, dead or alive you look at my face and it will lead down the path of a paradox. I have to get back to my time soon or at some point things will start changing then. That is if I return, it is still my time. I'm kind of am interfering with history. And as we know, that isn't a good thing, right Time Agent?" Jack stood up and backed away from NG.

"Jack, what does he mean by Time Agent?" Reggie asked. NG let his inner sight rest on the younger man's face. Jack did have taste. Reggie was beautiful, with soft features that were very feminine, along with wonderful blue eyes. It made NG snicker. Jack was so shallow sometimes and yes, as Gwen said he was once described to her on her first day that "He would shag anything gorgeous".

Jack didn't answer Reggie but let the younger man stew for a bit while he talked to NG. The gun went down as NG heard the click of the hammer being released, followed by the gun being put back in its holster.

Jack walked over to the sofa and ripped one of the covers off a pillow. "Here, put this around your head and we will take you back to the Hub. Maybe we can get you back to where you belong."

NG felt the pillowcase hit his head and he did just that. "Oh this is kinky, I rather like this and it is thin enough to see through." NG felt another wave of pain and winced a little. He ignored it and stood up.

"Jack, you can't take him back to the Hub, can you?" Reggie was at Jack's side, begging him not to do this.

The pillowcase was clear enough to see Jack caress Reggie's cheek. "Go get Liz. I promise it will be fine." He watched Reggie's face frown as the man did what he was told.

"Nice, you have him trained." NG couldn't help the jab at Jack. He was finding this oddly amusing. He was very awake now, feeling the side effects of his jump disappear.

"I guess I don't have you trained in the future?" He heard Jack chuckle. "Don't answer that. But tell me one thing, how much pain are you in? Do you have any idea what is causing it?" He seemed concerned, not at all the Jack that was painted by Torchwood in those ancient files of the man. They said he didn't care, that he showed no remorse for his actions. That wasn't what NG was experiencing from this man standing in front of him.

"This is the first time I have done this. Well the first time I was pulled, the other times I kind of stepped through a door, that would be the best way to describe it. It is like I would imagine the way you told us how it feels to travel with the Vortex Manipulator. My Dad said it always felt like something died in his mouth, afterwards. I don't remember hearing about these types of side effects. It might just be the way I react to it or maybe because I'm traveling without a net, that if I had a VM I would be more stable in this time. Overall though, I'm sure if I had five minutes with the Rift I would be able to figure out how to get home. I won't harm anything. I just don't belong here and my presence will really ruin things in this time. I don't want to piss off the Doctor now, he wouldn't like us amateurs playing with the big boys, after all!" NG laughed and Jack didn't. Jack's eyes went wide when he heard the Doctor mentioned. He didn't ask NG any more questions, even though NG knew how much Jack needed to find the Doctor at this point.

"Sorry, I talk too much when I think." He smiled under the pillowcase, trying to send the emotion to Jack in the hope of cheering him a bit.

Reggie and Liz returned to Jack, who asked them to go on ahead. Reggie's hesitation didn't go unnoticed, but he did what he was told, leaving Jack to help NG out of the house.

The smells outside took NG by surprise as they rode in the old Model T back to the Hub. Cardiff stunk like a sewer and an unwashed arm pit. But that was what it was, sewage. This was old Cardiff and it didn't have the modern flare that he was used to and that was great plumbing and cleaner air. He noticed the discoloration of the sky from coal being burned when he used his other sight to have a look around. This place was toxic to him as he began to cough.

"How do you people breath? This air is poison." He didn't like the way he was feeling. He would have to ask the Doctor how time travelers just didn't keel over and die from the pollutants the past had, not to mention illnesses. He was feeling very dizzy, maybe the pillowcase was adding to it. Also, the automobile was not very comfortable and he ended up falling into Jack's shoulder when he hit a bump.

Jack smiled at the hooded man and winked. "I get to all of them in the end," he said when NG righted himself.

"Keep you hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road, Jack!" Reggie shouted.

"Oh course, darling, but I don't need my eyes or my hands to flirt." Jack laughed when Reggie huffed at him. Turning around, he saw Reggie sitting with his arms crossed over his chest and pouting. The twinkle in Jack's eye was all about how he would make it up to the man later on. Jack was also aware that the stranger was watching. Somehow it made Jack behave for the rest of the ride to The Hub.

John Hart stood still as he listened to the soft beat of the Rift. After years of working for Torchwood and after many more years as a Time Agent, he had found a way of feeling time. He could sense the Rift as it pulsed, the way it felt and sounded before something happened. He could also tell when one end of Time opened to leave something in another. He couldn't feel the Tardis. Only Jack could do that. Jack would jump around like a kid and without thinking run to find out just which Doctor had showed up and if it was okay to say hello to his friend. The last few years it had been the right Doctor for Jack to go play with.

But now John was trying to feel if NG was somehow trying to get home. He closed his eyes and focused his thoughts through the Rift in the hope that NG would be able to find his way back.

"It isn't your fault." Mark was next to him. "We shouldn't act the way we do. I should have just let you be with Ben. I thought it was what you wanted." His eyes didn't find John looking at him. He was trying to send a beacon for NG to follow as well.

"Is that what you really think, Lovely? That I wanted to be with Ben all this time? For someone that reads people, you couldn't be more wrong. Ben was last on that list. My heart was always yours. It is like that other me just didn't let him go. That one in the future, the old John wanted to love Ben. I came home to the most beautiful person someone could love. But I was weak and Ben was so tempting, he was an excuse to push you away because I would never be good enough for you Mark, but that didn't mean I couldn't try to be. But then from time to time I see you and I just feel wrong for you, so I turn towards Ben in the hope that you might leave me. I know it is stupid and from the look on your face, you never bought it for a minute." He pulled Mark to him and they kissed. "I love only you like this, no one ever could fill the places in me like you do. I just wish I could let go of the guilt."

"Marry me again, John. Let's do that. We can do it when NG comes back with a big party with all the trimmings. It would be like starting again. I won't bring Ben up but I guess he'll have to be invited." He didn't wait for John to answer, but went to kiss him again. They didn't stop for a long time.

But somehow their love went straight to the mind of their son, finding him on the other side of the Rift and giving him a clear path home.

1905 smelled like a pit of the arm of a smelly giant that needed a bath and better hygiene. After all, it wasn't until the 50's that people bathed more than once a week and it wasn't until the 70's that people washed their hair more often. It was like living in a perfumed brothel that only smelled flowery to cover over the blatant stench of lots of unclean sex. NG didn't mean unclean in the sense of sinning, he meant as in bad grooming habits.

"God people, bathe sometimes!" He said out loud as the staff of Torchwood gathered around. "Your smell isn't covered up by that god awful scent you call perfume." He sniffed Liz through the bag.

She kicked him in the shin, making him curse. "I think that is enough. Our guest I would imagine is from the future. I suppose it is different, then. Why don't we get you some food while we try to figure out how to get you home?" Jack suggested, steering NG away from the angry mob of Torchwood employees, Reggie being one of them as NG could tell even with his face covered up that the man was pissed that Jack had touched him.

NG noticed one thing about Jack; he smelled exactly the same. He let Jack take him to the kitchen; it was more like a snack stand. "I keep forgetting that it is rather primitive, Jack. But you must love watching it all happen in front of your face. You always get dreamy eyed when you remember the past."

Jack tried not to pay much attention to the man under the pillowcase. "You shouldn't talk as if you know me. I might start looking for you at some point. I'm not going to even ask what year you are from, but I gather 21st century. Don't answer, please!" He laughed as he handed NG a piece of cheese and a hunk of bread.

"Even though the bacteria will more than likely kill me, I thank you for the food. Now can you please boil the water before you give me a glass? That is one thing I'm not willing to risk." He brought the cheese to his mouth under the pillowcase, followed by a hunk of the bread. "Not bad, kind of natural in taste."

"I take it you haven't had your shots for this kind of travel? Wait, don't answer, too much information." He grinned at the man as he went to put the water on for tea.

"They are going to ask you a million questions. I remembered the no Doctor clause around them at least. I didn't want to mention him and end up a permanent resident here." He winced as he felt something pull at his very fabric. Jack saw his distress and grabbed the man's arm to steady him. "Get me to the Rift, Jack. I think it is time for me to go." He stood as another wave pushed him into Jack. "You always smell the best." He reached for Jack's face just to touch it for a moment.

Jack just smiled at the man before he led him to the center of the Rift. It wasn't like the great machine they had in the future, but more of a giant cold spot in the center of the Hub. The others were nearby as they stood watching NG. He let go of Jack's arm as the white light came through the Rift. He didn't turn around as he removed the hood. Just as NG turned up in this world, he was gone.

Jack and the others were shocked as NG reappeared with a soft hum of the Rift. He stood in the middle of the group as they scanned him, making sure he was clean of any contaminants. Jack was the first to hold him, followed by his parents.

It never occurred to NG to ask if his parents were going to be okay because somehow he felt it on his trip back. They were fine, but NG knew he wasn't.

Dan came up to NG and slapped his old bracelet on him from when Jack and he had gone to investigate Doris. "It won't get you home but we can find out where you are. Just until we figure out what is going on. NG, the new one I'm working on won't be pretty. But it should keep you here. So where did you go?"

NG studied the bracelet before he answered. Everyone was watching him, waiting to hear about his grand adventure. He also realized that once he was home he had none of the pains or spasms he had had when he was in the other time. That was something else to remember and to write down. He looked as all the faces, turning at last to Jack.

"Would you believe here, but in 1905? I think Jack might have a little memory of that!"

"I can't believe they are getting remarried." NG said as he handed the picture of Reggie back to Jack. "He really did love you." NG went for another picture of the woman Liz that he remembered.

"He did, but I couldn't give it back. Our feelings weren't the same. He didn't make it to the end of the following year. It was the Thorniazine invasion. Liz also died when they tried to take over the Rift. I felt guilty over Reggie's death. I felt I took away his life." Jack's arm pulled NG in closer to him as he was looking at the picture of Liz.

They were cuddled up in NG's room in the Hub. Jack wanted to have windows at that moment. He would have loved to open them up to let the cooler spring air in so they could snuggle under the covers together. NG's skin was warm, soft as Jack found he was memorizing parts of NG tonight. He knew why, he needed something to hold onto in case NG vanished again. Next time he just might not make it home. The young man may be unstuck in time forever, never being able to get back. Jack didn't want NG lost, but he also didn't want him forgotten like so much of his memories of Reggie and so many other lovers from his past.

"Getting back to your parents. They needed to bury all that past bullshit that should have been dealt with after you were born. But your Papa, though he was right for leaving, loves to hold onto the unpleasant things where your Dad is concerned. They belong together that's for. Now that they can forgive themselves for how their selfish ways have hurt you now that you see the truth. I guess they want to start again. I do wonder how Ben will feel about it. Sometimes from the way they are, that is, personality wise; Nick and your Papa should have gotten together. I found that truth in a Zen Garden. I think I will build one at some point." He found NG looking at a group picture of the Torchwood staff from 1905.

"Follow your heart, Jack. You should have, with Reggie. And my Papa and Nick would have been too destructive. I like my parents with each other, thank you. I would never change that for the universe. Now, show me what kind of brute you were in the bygone days of 1905. I want to see if primitive Jack can rock my world like this tamed Jack can."

Jack found love easy with NG, but he knew that there was easy and then there was easy. Neither which was the same. They had much to learn and many things to find out, but it was nice to at least be heading in the right direction.

"Tame? I am not tame, you Brat!"

End Chapter 20

TBC