Okay, so evidently there are still problems on the site. Your reviews aren't showing up, but I have received them, don't worry.

Squatternut: Have I told you before that I love your s/n? I do. I also loved your review - I'm glad you like the continuation, and the character dynamics (they're usually what interest me the most). I'm trying my best to make Lois, Andy and Anna into their own characters, rather than their predecessors, but I'm not sure I'm succeeding. All the same, I shall continue to try.

mara: His Doctor might indeed know some of the answers, though you'll have to wait for a bit to find out. (The Doc won't arrive for a few episodes yet.) And yes, there may be some rather underhanded tactics involved in getting Jack to talk. Ianto has his methods. XD

moonchild: I adore the way you seem to read my mind. You seem to have grasped where I'm going with these characters perfectly, and I can only hope that some shred of that was conveyed in my writing (and continues to be, in fact). I wish they were my characters. They still belong to the BBC. But it's nice to have them on loan. And in answer to your question about Ianto's immortality...the first one. xD But, like you, I'm very much hoping that it's not permanent. Because that would mean two of our favourite TW members would be suffering, and that would be sad. =( And yes, I agree that CoE has grown on me. I'm a lot more accepting of Ianto's death, though I still hate that 5th episode. I s'pose that's what started all this, though, isn't it? XD

Please continue to review! I love hearing my inbox ping. =D

Jack prided himself on having his team ready for almost every eventuality within moments. It was a relic of his time in the trenches that had become second-nature to him, and readily imparted to the Torchwood operatives that he now commanded. Unfortunately, this sort of readiness often took months to instil, and the new recruits were sadly lacking. Aside from Jack and Ianto, the only one who immediately leapt into action was Anna, who was armed and ready within seconds.

It was to her that Lois looked for some sort of explanation. Her unspoken question was answered for, however, as Jack burst into the room, coat billowing wildly behind him in some invisible breeze. He leapt onto the flagstone with no more than a second glance and a quick motion of his hand to tell the others to follow his lead.

Ianto turned away from the rest of the team, heading down a short corridor towards the parking bay that housed the SUV. Halfway there, he realised that the clatter of footsteps echoing around him were not just his own, and he was in fact being followed by a breathless Andy. Ianto turned on his heel with a bit of a grimace. "You follow Jack," he corrected, pointing back towards the others. "I'll meet you up there."

"Oh," was all the response that Andy could manage before he turned and sprinted back the way he had come. He just had time to leap atop the flagstone as it began to rise.

Jack grinned. "Glad to see you again, Andy. Right, all of you. This is your basic Weevil hunt. They're not trained killers, and they aren't the brightest bulbs in the box, but they can deal some hefty damage if you drop your guard. So don't. Keep your coms open and your weapons to hand at all times."

"Don't most organisations have drills for this sort of thing, Captain?" Anna smirked. It was more an observation than a question.

"We used to. Then we realised that nobody ever took drills seriously. Consider it field training, if you like."

By this time, the flagstone had risen to its usual position in the Plass, just metres from the SUV. The three newer members slid onto the back seat, correctly assuming that Jack would be in the front. They scarcely had time to shut the doors before the SUV was pulling away at a considerable speed. After sampling the terrors of Jack's driving during the incident with the 456, Anna was quickly becoming convinced that reckless driving was a Torchwood job requirement.

Jack turned in his seat. "Have we got fixed co-ordinates yet?" There was a worrying amount of silence from the back seat. "Somebody please tell me that they remembered to bring the locator."

Anna tossed the device across Andy to Lois. "I grabbed it from your desk on the way out."

Lois smiled in gratitude. As she read out a steady stream of coordinates, Jack clutched a hand to his forehead. Ianto looked over at him in concern. "What's wrong? Is it your headache again?"

Jack shook his head. That had cleared as soon as they'd left the base; he had probably just needed some fresh air. "No, but Anna nearly gave me a heart attack." Ianto shot him a quizzical glance. "I'm not used to having competent recruits."

Ianto smirked. "I wasn't aware I was incompetent."

"Hey, you weren't a recruit so much as a stalker."

"I was persistent."

"Call it what you will." Jack grinned as the SUV ground to a halt. The doors opened in quick succession as its various occupants clambered out.

"Careful," warned Lois, keeping her back close to the body of the vehicle. "I've got two readings here."

Jack didn't turn to glance at her. He kept his gaze forward, scanning the darkness for movement. Nothing. It wasn't as if there was a shortage of places to hide, however. They were to the side of a disused car park on the left and an ill-tended estate on the right. The area they were in was just a curve of gutterway, populated by graffiti and abandoned supermarket trolleys. Plenty of corners and cinderblocks to hide behind and around.

A glimpse of movement within the car park caught Jack's eye. "Lois, stay by the SUV. Anna, Ianto, scout the area. Andy, with me. I think we've found the first one." He motioned with his hand and Andy stepped forward, gun held close to his chest. Jack held his Webley off to one side. The fingers of his other hand were splayed out, as though feeling the air.

There was a strange breeze in front of them. Andy found his gaze distracted by empty crisp packets blown along the ground; he was unable to concentrate on whatever might be lurking in the shadows. And he knew that was a very dangerous thing indeed. A dark shape darted behind a parked car, and Jack strode towards it, revolver out in front now and ready to shoot.

Ianto's voice came through the com system. "Jack, we've just found a puddle of human blood. There might be victims nearby."

Jack nodded as he acknowledged the update and skirted around the car. It was a red Peugeot, grey with mud, nothing special. As Jack drew closer, he could smell the stench rising behind it. Definitely a Weevil (nothing stank quite like a Weevil), but also something equally familiar – the stench of blood. "Are you hurt?" Jack murmured, inching closer. He could see the top of the Weevil's head now. "Or have you hurt someone else?"

It was crouched against the bumper of the car, making the curious whining sound that they had never been able to decipher. It scratched at the boot of the car for several seconds before Andy managed to subdue it with the spray. "One down," Jack muttered as he placed cuffs on the Weevil's wrist.

Andy, sensing that Jack was quite capable of taking care of the Weevil himself, instead turned his attention to the boot. Old police tricks, a safety pin, and several moments later, the boot clicked open. "Two down, actually."

Jack swore.