Hey gang. Well I'm back in Spokane, I just couldn't stand it where I was anymore. Now enough of that, let's get to it. This chapter isn't very long but it didn't need to be.

Chapter title: House on the Hill

Chapter rating: T

Chapter summary: On Gwen's day off she visits her aunt at an assisted living community and discovers a mystery. When she gets to the Hub to talk to the team about what she learns Ianto groans and is not happy. Jack is not happy about the mystery because it seems to be connected to a story he heard from the Doctor and Rose but is it really?

On with the show.

…

It was Gwen's first day off in over a month, so now that she was awake—earlier than she'd like—what should she do? Rhys had to work so Gwen was on her own. She may as well clean the flat.

It was only ten by the time she'd cleaned everything she felt needed cleaning, so now what?

Well, she had promised her Auntie Willa she'd visit when she got the chance. She may as well do that.

Auntie Willa lived in an assisted living community just outside of the city. The place was a bit "Waiting For God" in Gwen's opinion but Willa was happy there so that was that.

Auntie Willa answered her door with a big smile "Well, if it isn't little Gwennie Cooper. It's about time you decide to visit your favourite aunt."

Gwen hugged her "Hello Auntie. I know, I'm sorry, work's been crazy."

"Well come in, come in. Your mam tells me you're engaged. Do tell me all about it. I've got the kettle on."

…

After Gwen's story about Rhys's proposal and being pummelled with biscuits, Auntie Willa said "Now, Gwennie, you're a copper; I have a question for you."

"Oh? Are you having problems with someone?"

"No, not really. But you've seen that old house up the hill, yes?"

"Not up close but yes. What about it?"

"At night, quite a few of us here have seen strange blue lights coming from the windows. I was wondering if you could perhaps, as you young ones say, check it out?"

Strange blue lights? Maybe it was an alien or paranoid old people. "Does anyone live there?" Gwen asked.

"Oh no, not for years. I don't even think it has electricity."

That made it more interesting. "Well, I guess I could take a look. How long have you been seeing this blue light?"

"For a while now. But talk to Mary Winters, she knows the legend."

"Legend?"

"Oh yes, over a century ago in the city, the last time blue lights were seen like this. There was an explosion I think."

…

Mary Winters had a clear view of the house on the hill. She handed Gwen her fifth cup of tea for the day "In 1869 my family lived close to the funeral home in Cardiff, run by Mr Sneed. On Christmas Eve that year, he and his maid were killed in a gas explosion."

"What does that have to do with blue lights?" Gwen asked.

"I'm getting to that dearie. My grandmother was a wee girl at the time and she said that all night she heard strange noises and saw the lights. But that's not the point. Earlier, she saw a dead woman walking around. That same night people saw similar lights at a reading by Charles Dickens."

Well, this definitely needed digging deeper.

Gwen walked up to the old house. She walked around it first. There weren't any electrical boxes, it was probably still hooked up to a gas line. Note to self: don't light a match.

There was she had to admit, something eerie about the house. She took a breath and tried the front door. It was stuck. A shiver ran down her spine. Was she being watched? It felt like she was being watched. She didn't have her gun, maybe she should wait to go inside. That's what Jack would want her to do. Ianto too. Without a way to defend herself, Gwen shouldn't be investigating something potentially dangerous.

She ought to research that explosion in 1869 first. She thought about calling Tosh but decided on Ianto. Who better to ask about old Cardiff than an old Welshman?

"Hey Gwen" Ianto answered "What's up?"

"Oh not much. I was visiting my aunt."

"Okay" Ianto said in a 'why are you telling me that' tone of voice.

"Anyway, I heard an interesting story. Were you in Cardiff in 1869?"

"Nowhere near it, why?"

"There was a gas explosion at a funeral home on Christmas Eve. There was talk of strange lights and a walking dead person."

Ianto was silent for a moment and then he said "I think Jack was in Cardiff around then. Shall I ask him?"

"Okay."

She couldn't hear anything, Ianto must have been covering the mouthpiece. A few moments later Ianto came back on "Gwen, Jack wants you back at the hub to explain in person just where you heard this story."

"All right and Ianto, can you look up an old house that's just behind the Saviour Senior's Community? The lights have been seen there too."

"Sure, just get back here. Jack has that look on his face, you know, the look that's a mixture of his rooftop brooding countenance and the stepped in dog doo look."

"Okay, I'm on my way." She hung up and headed down the long stone steps. The shiver hadn't left her so she walked faster than she probably should have. About halfway down, she tripped on a shoelace and tumbled down the stairs. Everything went black.

…

It was early afternoon and Ianto was making the after-lunch coffee when the cog door opened and he felt the presence of another Immortal. Who could that be? Dewi was in London—Ianto put him on the train himself. When Methos said about a year, he meant it. So…

"Where have you been?" Jack barked. "That senior place isn't that far."

"Oh God, my head" that was Gwen's voice.

Ianto turned and looked down "Oh balls."

He stared down there a few minutes thinking about how to handle this.

"Are you all right?" Jack asked Gwen.

"Just a headache, I tripped on the stairs at the house and knocked myself out."

Owen approached her "Let's have a look."

Ianto took a breath and went down to them "Uh Gwen…"

Owen examined her head "There's no bumps or bruises. What exactly happened?"

Gwen blushed "Well, it's a little embarrassing. My shoelace was untied but I'm all right really."

Everyone stared at her.

Owen arched an eyebrow "You tripped down the stairs on your shoelace? Well you shouldn't be all right."

"Gwen," Ianto sighed "if I could have a word privately?"

Jack looked from Ianto to Gwen and back again "Really?" he said.

"Really what?" Owen asked "Something going on?"

Gwen looked at Ianto and her eyes went wide "Oh no. Really?"

Ianto took her by the elbow "Yes really." He led her to Jack's office with a look at the captain that said 'don't even think about it.'

"Did I die?" Gwen asked once Ianto had closed the door.

"Apparently" Ianto nodded.

Gwen sank onto the couch "But it didn't seem like it. I thought I was just knocked out."

"Then you had a quick one. Consider yourself lucky. My first death was slow."

"What happened?"

Ianto sat next to her "I fought the boar and the boar won."

"Oh God, you were hunting?"

"Yep, oh the food we had on this island back then. But that's why I feel immense satisfaction whenever I eat pork, revenge you could say."

Gwen sighed "So what do we do?"

"Well, you'll have to let Tosh and Owen know."

"Yeah, I guess so huh? What about Rhys?"

"That's up to you but he's a good Watcher, he'll figure it out sometime."

Gwen wrung her hands together nervously and took a breath "So will I have to learn to use a sword?"

"Yes but let's take care of this blue light special thing first and then start your training. And we'll talk more too." He stood and held his hand to her "Come on, back to work."

She took it.

…

"Go on then" Ianto nudged her forward.

Gwen took a deep breath "Looks like I'm an Immortal."

Tosh's eyebrows shot up and Owen's mouth dropped open.

Jack sighed "So you weren't just knocked out then? I was wondering about that headache of yours."

"Why are we just hearing about this now?" Owen asked.

"Well she only just had her first death" Ianto explained "I've known she was a pre-immortal since I met her. I told her before I faced Kendal. It was her prerogative to share it with anyone else not mine."

Owen rounded on Jack "Did you know? Gwen and Ianto tell you everything."

"No I don't" Gwen and Ianto said simultaneously.

"I overheard him telling her, yes" Jack nodded "and no, they don't tell me everything."

Ianto stared at him "You heard that?"

"Yep, before I swung from the rafters."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd want me to know so I didn't want to tell you that I knew."

Ianto rolled his eyes but otherwise said nothing.

"So," Jack said "is there a club for immortals? I mean do you have to be one of you or can any immortal join? Is there a secret handshake?"

"Well there is the 500 plus society" Ianto deadpanned.

"Really?"

"No and there's no handshake just headaches."

"Just making sure. Now," he looked at Gwen "I want you to tell me exactly what you learned today about these blue lights."

…

When Gwen finished explaining what she'd learned, Jack sighed deeply "If it's what I think it is, I was wondering when they'd leak through the Rift again."

"Did you deal with them then?" Tosh asked him.

Jack shook his head "No, but the Doctor did. I heard about it from him. The Gelf, that's what they're called, were in a gaseous state. They lived in the gas line and could possess, I guess, dead bodies. The undertaker's maid, Gwyneth was unique, telepathic like some who grow up on the Rift. She was the key, the one who could open the Rift to let the Gelf all the way through. The Doctor wanted to help them but they weren't as nice as they had pretended. But Gwyneth couldn't send them back to where they came from. She could trap them though, with the Rift. See, the gas had been turned up to draw the Gelf out of the corpses. Gwyneth lit a match and the place blew up, thus trapping the Gelf in the Rift."

"She sacrificed herself?" Gwen said.

"Yes" there was a distant look in Jack's eyes that Ianto was sure he was the only one who noticed.

…

Two hours later and they were all staring up at the old manor house.

"Creepy," Owen stated and then he stared at Gwen "You fell down those steps? A bit Exorcist, don't you think."

Ianto rolled his eyes, he had a feeling Owen would go there at some point. "I know that house, built in 1804, I courted the daughter for a bit in 1817."

Owen turned his 'what-the-hell' stare on him "Is there anyone in the past you didn't know?"

"I didn't know that Mr Sneed. I avoid undertakers, they give me the collywobbles."

"Did you just say collywobbles?"

"Yes I did. Sounded weird out of my mouth didn't it?"

"I think it sounded sexy" Jack said.

Owen rolled his eyes "Jack, you think everything with more than one vowel sounds sexy out of his mouth."

"That's because it's true."

"Boys" Gwen pointed up at the house "are we going to investigate or not?"

"Oh yeah, what d'we got Tosh?"

Tosh was on her PDA/scanner "There doesn't seem to be anything unusual."

"There wouldn't be if they're in the gas line. Ianto, does anyone own it now?"

Ianto had found information on the house in their files "We do."

Everyone stared at him "We do?"

Ianto nodded "Torchwood Cardiff purchased it in 1902. They were going use it as a safe house but the Rift distracted them and it was forgotten. The blue lights first appeared sixty years ago but the gas is supposed to be shut off. Jack, you joined in 1899, did you know…?"

Jack shook his head "Like those bitches would tell me they bought a house, probably wanted to use it as a 'no men allowed' whore house. Anyway, so it's ours, good then we're not trespassing. Do we have the key?"

Ianto fished it out of his pocket "It was in the file. I thought Torchwood didn't trespass."

"We don't but not everyone's aware of that. Tosh, just to be sure, the air's safe in there, right?"

"Oh please" Ianto said "there's only one way to be sure" he started up the steps "I'll check."

The manor wasn't very large by today's standards, back when it was built though, you'd have to be very well off to own something that size.

Ianto was thankful he'd thought to bring a crowbar. He used that to wrench off the boards that were covering the windows on either side of the door.

"Need a hand?" Jack had come up the steps.

Ianto took a breath "I think this is good enough for now."

"I told the others to wait. Is it all right I told Gwen to wait?"

"Yeah, one death a day is plenty for a fresh one."

"That's what I thought but Owen was being Owen and said something about why Gwen had to wait when she's immortal now. I think he's a bit cranky."

Ianto sighed "If he and Tosh don't have sex soon I'm going to lock them in a closet till they do."

"With you there" he waved an arm to the door "shall we?"

Ianto unlocked the door and coughed as a cloud of dust engulfed him "Son of a bitch."

"Dusty" Jack observed.

Ianto glared at him "Thank you Captain Obvious."

"I thought Methos was Captain Obvious."

"You've been promoted. Come on" he stepped inside and Jack followed.

They both sniffed the air.

"Doesn't seem to be a gas leak" Jack said.

"No, they should be all right. But you know what, let's get rid of all the boards and crack a few windows before we fully investigate. Owen can take out his frustrations."

"Good idea."

…

A little later Ianto found Jack in the dining room with his ear to the wall.

"What are you listening for?"

"The Gelf but so far all I hear is mice."

Ianto groaned "Great, now I'll have to call an exterminator. Bloody rodents," Ianto shook his head "What are the Gelf supposed to sound like?"

"Whispering I think, I'm not sure" Jack sighed and sank to the floor.

Ianto crouched in front of him "Want to talk about it?"

"No…yes… I don't know."

"Well I'm here, if you want to talk."

Ianto stood and was about to turn when Jack said "When I was here in 1869 I knew what was going to happen. I had already met the Doctor but when he dealt with the Gelf he hadn't met me yet so I couldn't do anything to help."

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine what that must be like."

Jack took a shuddering breath "I'd been in Cardiff about six months when it happened. I knew her, Gwyneth, I got a job delivering for the butcher. Saw her every week but never got around to asking her out."

"You didn't?" Ianto got on his knees and took Jack's hands.

"She was just so sweet, I didn't want take her innocence. She deserved someone better. You know, I think that's the real reason I hired Gwen."

"I don't think Gwen's innocent."

"No, she looks like Gwyneth, just like her."

"Well that happens, you know that."

"I know. It's still weird."

"Of course it's weird. Whoever said life wasn't weird was living under a rock."

Jack smiled "You're right. Well, let's get back to work."

…

Jack didn't get it. There were no signs of the Gelf in that house. The gas lines had been completely disconnected and it was nowhere near where they were before. It just didn't make sense.

"I hope you're hungry" Ianto called from the kitchen "I always make too much Shepard's Pie."

Jack went in there "It sure smells good and yes, I'm starving. You okay?"

"Of course I am. More worried about you."

"Methos told me that you only make Shepard's Pie when your mind feels foggy. You sure made a lot during the impotency."

Ianto cringed "Don't say that word. And Methos is a blabbermouth. I happen to like Shepard's Pie. Now what's bothering you?"

Jack took a breath "If it's not the Gelf in that place, I have no idea what it could be."

"Tosh's cameras should get something if there's anything. But I'll be honest," Ianto took the pie out of the oven "there is something weird about that house."

"How so?"

Ianto's sigh wasn't his usual, that of a youngish man who rolls his eyes at the world. No this was the sigh of an old man, weary and deep and so very tired "Do you believe in ghosts Jack?"

"Only echoes in time like what that ghost machine shows people. You do?"

"Lost souls, those who cannot find their way to the Afterlife. I haven't had much experience with them but I believe in spirits yes."

"What about magic? Methos says that in 5,000 years he hasn't…"

"Methos is a liar, you should know this by now."

"Seen anything like that" Jack finished lamely.

This time Ianto's sigh was frustrated "Magic isn't always visible, Jack. The man was a druid for Goddess's sakes. He's just a cynical old coot who likes playing with people's heads."

"Whoa" Jack put his hands on Ianto's arms "what's wrong?"

Ianto took a deep breath "Sorry, lot on my mind I guess. I've been thinking about the last time I saw him, how he just fucking vanished, like teleported or something. And it's been driving me crazy 'cos ever since my cure he's been acting so fucking weird. It's like, like he was more alive than he's ever been and, and I had nothing to do with it."

"I can't explain it but something happened to him in the Hub bathroom, he told me he had an epiphany…" Jack stopped and remembered "actually he said something else first, we were in the freezer and I was being gloomy…"

"What if we can't save him?" his voice was meek and hollow.

Methos turned around "we will" he was resolute.

"What if we can't?"

Methos exhaled, breath causing condensation in the air before him. "Then you will have to kill him."

Jack blinked "Me? Why me?"

Methos looked into his eyes "There is a lot of evil inside him right now. We cannot risk it going into anyone else. You'd have to take him out where nobody else is and take his head. But it won't come to that Jack, you have to believe that."

"What got you filled with so much confidence? You were in the bathroom awhile yesterday, you came out more chipper. There something in there I don't know about?"

Methos smiled slightly "Yeah, a portal to another dimension where everything's roses and kittens. That and the Welsh god of the dead told me it wasn't Ifan's time yet."

Jack stared at him and for a moment looked like he believed him. Then he shook his head "Methos."

Methos smiled again "I had an epiphany. Sitting around crying isn't going to accomplish anything. And in an insane amount of years alive he's the only man I've ever really loved in that way too. We're going to save him."

Ianto was silent a moment and then he said "Maybe he really did go to another dimension…I didn't really realise how much faith he had in me."

"I'm sorry I lost my head in there. I should have been as confidant as he was."

"You didn't know me as well. Let's have dinner and talk about something else."

"Sure, so Gwen's an Immortal…"

"Anything but that. I don't want to think about that right now. Goddess, I don't want to be her teacher, I've got to pawn her off on someone else. Have you set the table yet?"

"Uh…"

Ianto swatted him with a dish towel "I do whatever you want at work, is it so much that you do something I ask in my house?"

"I'll do it, I'll do it. Relax."

So what's in the old house? Is it the Gelf, ghosts, or something else? We'll find out soon enough.

I hope you like how I killed Gwen and for those of you who utterly despise her, I'm sorry she didn't stay that way. But plot development, you understand. Things are gonna get interesting now…more interesting.

Yes, I have all of part 3 planned so cross your fingers that I get it written and posted in a timely manner.

Next chapter we start training. That should be fun, considering Ianto won't let her so much as clean a sword till she at least takes a written test on a book he makes her read.

I have almost half of it done but I want to try and work on Not Unbreakable for a while, hopefully get a couple more chapters banged out soon. I also have a couple of side projects that will only be posted if and when they're complete. One is a new Janto story which I think is summarised in my profile, one is a Highlander story that has the same Methos was born a god idea but no Torchwood and one is a Harry Potter story where James Potter was out of the house when Voldemort showed up and what it could be like if James raised Harry as a single parent. And it's mostly from James's POV so…yeah, that man doesn't shut up.

TTFN